Majorca Daily Bulletin reporterPalma16/12/2015 00:00
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Pupils from Europe have, for the first time, become the most populous of schoolchildren from foreign countries in Balearic classrooms. The 2015 yearbook for Balearic education runs an article in which it shows that, of the 23,852 pupils from outside Spain during the 2014-2015 school year, 7,914 were European, followed by 7,130 from African countries, 7,032 from central and southern America and 1,776 from Asian countries.

The article by a professor at the University of the Balearic Islands, Lluís Vidaña, uses this evidence in stressing the need for work to be done on multiculturalism in schools, as necessary measures have yet to be adopted. A reason for European pupils having become the most represented was a decline of 2,547 African and Latin American pupils compared with the 2013-2014 school year.

With regard to the yearbook in general, its co-director, Carme Orte, said during its presentation to the media that it includes twenty-five pieces of work that are the result of the participation of 45 authors. "In this edition we have looked to highlight positive issues and all the good work being done in the education system."

Another article, by Bartomeu Cañellas and Heracli Portas, focuses on the need for pupils to repeat. They discovered that 56% of 15-year-old pupils were not studying the course that corresponds to their age, which is lower than a 62% national average.

The report is available via the university's website and that of Caixa Colonya, which sponsored the study.