EDUCATIONAL-REFORM IN SPAIN

This paper presents the main objectives of an historic reform of the Spanish school system and the overall process of educational change. In the first part, the present situation is described, principally the effort made during recent years to extend learning opportunities to everyone and the problems still to be resolved. In the second part, the main features of the reform process are identified: the quantitative versus qualitative debate, the meaning of quality, control over the curriculum, homogeneity versus diversity in the curriculum, the relationship between school and society, and the influence of the European context. In the third part, the three foremost aims of the reform are developed: to extend basic education, to modify the educational levels and to improve quality. Finally, the process of change is described from 1983 up to the present day and into the future.