Ibiza is at the head of the percentage of repeaters in Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) in the Balearic Islands, according to data from the Yearbook of Education 2024, recently presented at the headquarters of the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB). According to the report, 8% of the students in the fourth year of ESO in Ibiza do not achieve promotion to Bachillerato, surpassing the 6.5% in Mallorca and 4.8% in Menorca. This figure reflects an important educational challenge for the island, which contrasts with the general trend in the Balearic Islands to reduce grade repetition thanks to more inclusive methodologies adapted to the needs of students. Another factor highlighted in the yearbook is the high presence of foreign students in Ibiza and Formentera, which reaches 24% of total enrollment, well above the 18% recorded in Mallorca and 11% in Menorca. This cultural and linguistic diversity, although it enriches the classrooms, also poses a challenge for integration and academic success, especially at the secondary level. The report reveals that in the first educational stages, such as the transition from kindergarten to primary school, the promotion rate is high in all the islands, with 98.9% in Ibiza. However, this figure decreases in the transition from primary to secondary, where 87.7% of students manage to advance to the next grade. Despite these figures, the jump to the post-compulsory stage remains a challenge in Ibiza, with a repetition rate significantly higher than the Balearic average.
Vocational training and school dropout
As for Vocational Training (FP), Ibiza and Formentera have higher levels of participation than Menorca in intermediate training cycles, but fail to reach the results of the Minorcan island in higher cycles. The yearbook insists on the need to expand the supply of vocational training as a key measure to combat school dropout and offer viable educational alternatives to young people on the island.
Local initiatives: progress at the Isidor Macabich Institute
The report also highlights positive initiatives, such as the comprehensive educational model implemented at the Isidor Macabich Institute in Ibiza, which incorporates techniques such as emotional education, mindfulness and group cohesion strategies. These innovations seek to promote the well-being of students and improve their academic performance, serving as an example of effective pedagogical practices in an island environment.
Key recommendations for Ibiza
The Education Yearbook 2024 stresses the need to promote inclusive strategies to reduce grade repetition, increase resources for the integration of foreign students and promote innovative educational models that combine academic and emotional development. These actions are essential to meet the challenges of the education system in Ibiza and ensure equitable opportunities for all students.
