From secondary route to strategic option: half a century of transformation of Vocational Education and Training in Spain (1975-2025)

Abstract

Since the enactment of the General Education Law in 1970 and culminating in the 2022 Vocational Training Act (Organic Law 3/2022), Spain’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) system has evolved from a secondary educational pathway into a strategic pillar for the education system and labor market. Over the past fifty years, VET has undergone profound legislative, pedagogical, and structural transformations, in response to growing demands for skilled labor and the need to reduce early school leaving and improve youth employability.This article presents a systematic review of the development of VET in Spain in relation to the broader educational reforms introduced since the democratic transition. It pays special attention to the influence of successful European models (such as Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands) and to the policy recommendations of international organizations including the OECD, UNESCO, and CEDEFOP. The study analyzes major advances—such as the expansion of Dual VET, the modularization of curricula, and the integration of digital training technologies—as well as ongoing challenges like negative social perceptions, territorial disparities, limited business cooperation, and inadequate career guidance.The findings highlight that VET has played a key role in reducing dropout rates and aligning professional qualifications with technological and economic shifts. However, to fully consolidate its role as a high-quality and prestigious educational route, Spain must adopt a long-term strategy that ensures adequate funding, equitable regional access, enhanced early-stage vocational guidance, and stronger links with the business sector.

Keywords: Vocational Education and Training, Dual VET, school dropout, employability, educational reform, Spanish education system