Grade Repetition in Spain: A Costly Failure?

Repeating a Grade: A Costly and Ineffective Practice in Spanish Schools Spain spends 1.3 billion euros annually on grade repetition, a practice that educational experts widely criticize. A recent video by Àlex Letosa highlights the issue, citing data from Save the Children that shows repetition has a negligible positive effect on student learning and can even be detrimental in the long run. The video also points out the disproportionate impact on students from low-income families, who repeat grades three times more often than their wealthier peers, despite similar effort. "Repetir no mejora el aprendizaje. Solo genera frustración, estigmatiza y cuesta millones." says Letosa in his video, which translates to "Repeating doesn't improve learning. It only generates frustration, stigmatizes, and costs millions." The video also highlights the correlation between grade repetition and increased dropout rates. In Catalonia alone, over 13,000 young people left high school or vocational training programs in a single year. Letosa advocates for alternative solutions, such as individualized support, active teaching methodologies, and smaller class sizes. The high cost and negative consequences of grade repetition demand a serious reconsideration of current educational policies in Spain. The need for innovative and effective teaching strategies that cater to the diverse needs of all students is clear.