Balearic Islands post worrying results on high school graduation

MORE than 2,500 youths in the Balearic Islands from one school year intake did not complete their secondary studies, says a new report.

Out of the 9,340 who began high school in the year 2009-2010, only 6,803 had completed the first four years by 2012-2013.

The number of students who transition beyond the compulsory first four years to a higher level amounts to just 72.76 per cent, according to the study created by the Education Ministry that compared data from several years.

The figures have placed the Islands as the autonomous community in Spain with the lowest number of students who graduate from secondary school, with only Valencia scoring lower.

In addition, the average number of years which six-year-olds will go on to spend in school has dropped to 12.2 years, the lowest ‘academic life expectancy’ in the whole country.

Finally, the school enrolment rate at 17 years old is 63.3 per cent, and the number in education between 18 and 22 years old is just 10.8 per cent, also the most negative results in Spain.