Balearic state schools lose 1,234 pupils in a year
In Palma, Mallorca, the University of the Balearic Islands reports a sharp split in school numbers: state schools lose 1,234 pupils in 2025-2026, while private schools gain 945. The university presents its education yearbook on Thursday, 22 October 2026. Across the Balearic Islands, total enrolment falls by 289 to 197,910 — its first drop since 2016.
State schools still teach far more pupils than private schools: 126,258 compared with 71,652. The figures cover education from the early years through upper secondary and vocational training.
State schools also lose teachers
The islands have 301 fewer teachers than the previous school year. State schools lose 641, leaving them with 15,460, while private schools gain 340 and now employ 7,122.
More primary pupils repeat a year
In the second year of primary school, the share of pupils repeating a year rises from 2.3% to 3.3%. It also rises in the fourth and sixth years. Joan Amer, who directs the yearbook, says making pupils repeat a year goes against the recommendations of international experts.
The report puts the share of foreign pupils at 19.3%, up 0.4 percentage points on the previous year and 5.8 points above the national average. More pupils are completing compulsory secondary education, however: the latest figures show 88.1% did so in 2024-2025, up from 87.6% the year before.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com