The gaps in educational results in Spain have tended to become entrenched or even grow after the pandemic. According to a report prepared by Esade and Save The Children based on the results of the latest PISA report, the Economic factor has much greater weight in the grades obtained by students than their migrant origin or not. Here is a fundamental piece of information: A student of foreign origin scores an average of 32.5 points less in mathematics compared to a non-migrant (equivalent to just over one and a half courses). However, this gap is reduced to 6.6 points if the effect of the economic inequality.
The difference in grades between one group and another in Catalonia goes from 43 points – more than two years – to only five if the socioeconomic factor is eliminated
AND This inequality in Catalonia is much more painful. While non-migrant students score in PISA an average of 43 points higher in mathematics than migrant students (equivalent to more than two courses), subtracting the socioeconomic factor, the difference drops to 5 points, that is, in statistical terms it practically disappears.
According to the document, the difference in performance in mathematics that can be explained by socioeconomic level in Spain is 16%, similar to the OECD average and has not changed substantially compared to 2018. At the regional level, they are Asturias (20%), Euskadi and Murcia (18%) who have greater inequality.
The study of Esade and Save The Children made public this Tuesday from PISA results also alerts that students of level socioeconomic bass has almost four times more likely to repeat a grade than that of high socioeconomic level. Something that has not changed since 2018 and that places Spain at the top of the OECD as the country in which it is most repeated. He highlights that on this issue Catalonia has done its homework and it is the territory of the State in which it is the least repeated by far. While the Spanish average is 22%, in Catalonia it is 7.4%.
Beyond actually having reduced repetition ratesone of the Catalan particularities that stands out Lucía Cobreros, Esade researcheris that unlike Spain, where from 2018 to 2022 the mathematics grade of native students has decreased more compared to non-native students, In Catalonia the opposite has happened. The grades that have worsened the most (always according to the PISA 2022 report) are those of migrant students, decreasing both those of first generation migrant students – born outside Catalonia – and second generation, that is, adolescents born here [hablamos siempre de alumnado de 15 años] of migrant parents.
Committing to effective free charter schools is key to fighting against school segregation
One of the elements to take into account for the debate and clearly a pending Catalan subject is the little difference between the results of first and second generation migrants.
Among the measures proposed by the authors of the report to reverse the situation, it is worth highlighting that the necessary plans against school segregation “bet on the effective free provision of charter schools.” In this same sense, the researchers point to the need to move towards long school days, ensuring free school supplies, dining room and transportation for boys and girls in poverty and their access to sufficient scholarships that promote their permanence in the educational center. and its continuity in post-compulsory education.
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The report also points out the need to promote teacher training focused on a “greater effectiveness and practical skills in classroom management in heterogeneous classes”, as well as training associated with “reflecting and changing beliefs and pedagogical practices related to grade repetition.”
Finally, the Esade and Save The Children report recommends providing extra resources and promote ratio reductions students/teacher in educational centers that educate the most disadvantaged students. Among the measures to support students, the study advocates promoting individualized reinforcement tutoring or in small groups, both during school hours and outside of school hours.