Press release 17/01/2025

PRIVATE EDUCATION EXPENDITURE AND FUNDING STATISTICS 2023

Total expenditure by private education centres in the Basque Country rose by 15.1% in 2023 compared to 2021 reaching 1,407 million euros

Between 2021 and 2023 education expenditure per student rose by 7.3% and per school unit by 10.8%

The total expenditure of the centres that belonged to the private education network in 2023 stood at 1,407 million euros, up 15.1% on 2021, according to Eustat data. The majority of the sector's total expenditure was concentrated on pre-university level centres (85%), while higher education centres represented 13% and those dedicated to arts education accounted for the remaining 2%.

In 2023, current expenditure rose to 1,324 million euros, increasing by 13.8% between 2021 and 2023. The majority of current expenditure (72%) went on staff. Of particular note was the increase in respect of 2021 in expenditure on both additional activities (+126.8%%) and additional services (+44.6%), which have recovered and surpassed their pre-pandemic levels.

Within current expenditure by function, the education function accounted for expenditure of 1,187 million euros, 10.5% more than in 2021.

Meanwhile, capital spending increased by 40.7% compared to 2021, approaching the level of investment that occurred in 2018.

Education expenditure per student stood at 5,585 euros, 7.3% more than in 2021, while education expenditure per school unit or group rose to 140,374 euros, up 10.8% on 2021. Education expenditure includes the estimated expenditure on teaching and non-teaching staff who do not have a contractual relationship with the centre and do not receive remuneration.

In addition, education expenditure per school unit increased for the education levels of Infant Education and Primary Education to 82,847 euros and 112,733 euros, respectively (8.2% and 16.8% more than in 2021). For Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) the increase was 139,110 euros (+14.6%); for Vocational training (FP) it stood at 127,250 euros (+12.5%); and for upper secondary education (Bachillerato) it was 165,956 euros (+7.9%).The cost per unit in Adult Education (EPA) amounted to 54,403 euros (-3.5%).

Education expenditure per student stood at 5,221 euros for Early Childhood Education, 5,060 euros for Primary Education, 6,129 euros for Compulsory Secondary Education, 6,042 euros for Upper Secondary Education, 6,169 euros for Vocational Training and 1,916 euros for Adult Education. Furthermore, expenditure per student at university level rose to 7,950 euros, whilst for Arts Education it was 1,916 euros.

Regarding income, the total income for private centres amounted to 1,410 million euros, with 99.3% corresponding to current income and the remaining 0.7% to capital income. Public subsidies were the main source of current income, accounting for 62.9%, this proportion decreasing by 1.1 percentage points compared to 2021; followed by fees, which represented 34.1% of current income, and within those, tuition fees (22.7%) and fees for additional services (8.9%).

As a whole, income from fees rose to 481 million euros, of which tuition fees comprised 66.6% of the total.

For further information:

Eustat - Euskal Estatistika Erakundea / Basque Statistics Institute C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz Press Service: servicioprensa@eustat.eus Tel.: 945 01 75 62