School absenteeism in Spain. Data and reflections

Abstract

School absenteeism is not paid the attention it deserves in Spain. Despite several studies demonstrating that more pupils of compulsory education ages do not go to school than is apparently assumed –for example, PISA reports quantifying between 25% and 28% of year-4 Compulsory Secondary Education students–, this socio-educational reality is scarcely visible. The present work offers an initial conceptual clarification of the problem before applying an integral approach to analyse the legal regulations in force in our country: the right to education; compulsory schooling and absenteeism. According to this theoretical framework, works that have evidenced the accentuated incidence of absenteeism conducts are shown. Finally, the significant difference between what current regulations set out and the incidence of absentee students is confirmed according to the cited studies. Based on all this, the need for greater intervention by education authorities is considered to more efficiently apply the right to education which, according to Spanish regulations, is a fundamental right.

Keywords

• absentismo escolar
• derecho a la educación
• escolaridad obligatoria
• políticas educativas