The education budget for 2027 in the Canary Islands will reach 2,532.9 million euros, marking a new historic high for the department. This figure represents a 9.4% increase compared to 2026 and consolidates a 26% growth accumulated during the current legislature, adding 529 million euros more than in 2023.
The Minister of Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity and Sports, Poli Suárez, highlighted the effort made to increase resources for schools, students, and educational professionals. The Ministry's budget increases by 218 million euros compared to the previous year. The department accounts for 19.16% of the autonomous community's total budget.
The Ministry will compensate for the loss of thirty million euros in European funding in 2027 with its own funds, ensuring the continuity of actions. Credit modifications approved in previous years added 146.5 million in 2024, 202.6 million in 2025, and eighty million in 2026.
Educational infrastructure will receive a 26% increase, reaching nearly 37 million euros. This will enable the development of the Canary Islands Educational Infrastructure Strategic Plan 2024-2035 (281.6 million euros) and projects such as the naturalization of patios and the installation of photovoltaic systems.
Attention to diversity is strengthened with 36.2 million euros for students with specific educational support needs (NEAE), a 19% increase. 27.6 million will be allocated to the auxiliary staff contract, which has grown by 102.7% during the legislature, from 941 to 1,907 professionals. Specialized teaching staff has increased by 41%, with over 52 million euros invested.
The network of specialized resources includes 382 'Aulas Enclave' (Enclave Classrooms) and 56 centers for preferential attention to students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), in addition to the new Special Education Center in Adeje. The NEAE +21 program continues, and the age limit for participation is extended to thirty years.
Complementary aid for students with ADHD and disabilities below 25% (800,000 euros) and free school meals for 'Aulas Enclave' and Special Education Centers, implemented in 2024, are maintained.
The Canary Islands Law on Attention to Diversity and Student Well-being is currently being processed to update the regulatory framework.
The reduction of school ratios is consolidated, with groups of 16, 18, and 20 students in Early Childhood Education, 22 in Primary, and 25 in Secondary. Investment in hiring teaching staff has increased by over 130 million euros, and the teaching staff has grown by 2,865 professionals.
81 psychology professionals are being incorporated into Educational and Psychopedagogical Guidance Teams (4.4 million euros) to support the emotional well-being and mental health of students aged 12 to 18.
Resources for complementary services increase by 11% (16 million additional), with emphasis on school transport (10.7 million) and canteen services (26 million), which serve over 74,000 students.
The summer meal aid program allocates 2.5 million euros to 10,500 families who benefit from zero-fee school meals.
The Plan for Administrative Simplification and Improvement of Education Management in the Canary Islands 2025-2027 includes 76 measures to reduce bureaucratic workload. Doramas, the new integrated educational management system, is being deployed, aiming to reduce bureaucratic tasks for teachers and management teams by around 50%.
The budget for IT systems increases by 6.7 million euros to enhance the security and functionality of the Ministry's digital platforms.
The expansion of public schooling for ages zero to three is a priority, with plans to reach 4,320 public places and 5,309 through municipal collaboration. The 'Bono Infantil' (Child Voucher) maintains 5 million euros to facilitate early schooling, benefiting 2,430 families.
The cost of free textbooks for compulsory education reaches 13.4 million euros in 2027, aiming to benefit 185,000 students by the 2029/2030 academic year.
Vocational Training (VT) will see a significant budget increase of 55% for teaching and Special Regime courses, and 427% for Professional Qualifications. The overall area increases its allocation by nearly 17 million euros.
Investment in professional competency accreditation procedures will be 1.8 million euros. The network of accredited professionals has grown from 319 to 2,330, and the catalog of accreditable qualifications reaches 207.
VT in the Canary Islands has over 48,300 students and nearly 2,600 groups in the 2026/2027 academic year. The network of Integrated Vocational Training Centers has grown by 43% to twenty centers, present on all islands.
Adapted Vocational Training is reinforced with extended itineraries and a maximum age of 33 for students with disabilities.
In sports, an additional 300,000 euros are allocated to school sports, 100,000 to promote values, and another 100,000 for traditional games. An investment of one million euros is planned for physical activity promotion.
The sports sector in the Canary Islands represents 4.45% of the GDP, with a direct contribution of 2,586 million euros annually and 28,667 jobs. Initiatives like ExpoDeca and high-performance sports support programs will be promoted.
The 2027 budget will ensure the continuity of legislative measures, improve the attention for 232,014 public education students and the working conditions of over 30,000 teachers, and strengthen support for Canary Islands sports, from promoting physical activity to backing clubs, federations, and athletes.
