Basic level VET programmes : a tool against the risk of Early School Leaving in Spain

In the last years, Spain has been suffering a serious economic crisis that is reflected by high unemployment rates, especially among young people. Many of these young people have a low educational level because of Early School Leaving (ESL). The Spanish dropout rate in 2013 was 23,4%, the highest in Europe Union. The Spanish Central Government passed the Organic Act for the improvement of Educational Quality (LOMCE, Spanish acronym). One of the most important measures of this act is the creation of Basic level VET programmes. They are aimed to reduce ESL rates and they allow students to complete their skills for lifelong learning and acquire the necessary training to obtain a professional qualification level 1 of the National Catalogue of Vocational Qualifications. Firstly, we will show how the VET system is structured in Spain. In the second place, we will present how the Basic level VET programmes are regulated. Finally , we conclude that a right implementation of the Basic level VET programmes can be an effective tool against ESL.