When planning your change of residence and how to settle in Andorra, for families with children or teenagers, the aspect of Andorran education is of paramount importance. It is important to be well informed about the different educational options Andorra has to offer in order to choose where and how your children will study. At Only Andorra we would like to offer you detailed information about the different educational possibilities, as well as answer your doubts about the language of study and other related questions. In this article we offer detailed information about the education offered in Andorra.
The education system in Andorra is complicated by the country's location between Spain and France. Historically, people of different nationalities came here, and this was also passed on to the education system. For this reason, the Andorran education system is flexible and varied, very complete and can be chosen at one's own discretion.
Andorra's three education systems
When talking about the Andorran education system, we have to talk about it in the plural, as it is made up of three systems: the Andorran education system, the Spanish education system and the French education system.
We can even include a fourth, the British education system. But it is only offered at the public school, the British College of Andorra. This option is interesting for English or other emigrants who do not want to follow any of the three public education systems mentioned above.
Historical context of education in Andorra:
The principality of Andorra was a fairly isolated territory until the 20th century. Its political regime was of a feudal nature with laws and institutions more typical of the Middle Ages. Living conditions were very hard at that time.
However, in 1866, a noble and wealthy Andorran businessman, Guillem d'Areny i Plandolit, led the New Reform. A reform of Andorran institutions, he was the country's first General Trustee. It allowed a limited participation of the heads of families in the country's government, made up of 24 councillors elected by the trustees.
The new reform gave rise to the first congregational and denominational schools, among them the school of Canillo in 1880. They were Spanish schools and were dependent on the Spanish Ministry of Education for the first time from 1930 onwards.
Andorra has always been a country that has received many emigrants from different countries, so these schools were not enough and in 1900 the first French schools were opened. Their situation was regulated in 1982 with the official publication of the decree on French schools and the Lycée du Copríncipe Français in Andorra.
Thirty years later, in 1930, the first secular Spanish schools were opened and modernised throughout the 1960s and 1970s. In 1972, the need to preserve the country's peculiarities and identity in its education system was determined. Therefore, a programme of Andorran education was initiated through the teaching of geography, history, the institutions of Andorra, as well as the Catalan language. This model of education culminated ten years later in the Andorran education system, l'Escola Andorrana. French schools were also regulated. In 1993, Spanish schools were regulated by the Spanish-Andorran agreement, signed on 11 January.
Since 1993, the educational offer in Andorra has been increasing in all areas, and there is currently an association for high abilities called Zebra 4, which attends to different children who are gifted or have some extraordinary talent.
Common conditions of the three education systems in Andorra:
Although the three education systems are different, they share several, minimal commonalities:
- Competencies are centralised by the Andorran Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport with three secretaries of state.
- Although there are agreements with Spain, France and Portugal, the three education systems are governed by the Law on the organisation of the Andorran education system (BOPA 48, July 1994) and by the Qualified Education Law (BOPA 51, September 1993).
- Compulsory education is from age 6 to age 16, from primary to secondary school.
- Formal and voluntary education is nursery education (from the age of 3), Baccalaureate and Vocational Training (16 to 18), and University Education (post-compulsory from the age of 18).
- Except for private educational establishments, all other systems and establishments are free of charge.
- School transport is offered, provided by the government of Andorra. You have to apply for a card and pay a fixed monthly fee. More information can be found on the official website: School transport (educacio.ad)
- Skiing is an activity that is part of compulsory education during primary education, it is part of physical education as Andorra is a snow country, the activity is known as "school skiing".
From here, we will now look at the different education systems in Andorra.
CONTACT US
Our Telephone:
The Spanish Education System in Andorra
- It depends on the Spanish Ministry of Education, since 1993 represented by the Consejería de Educación de España en Andorra, attached to the Spanish Embassy,
- Spanish history, geography, culture and language are promoted.
- The base language of the Spanish system is the official language of Andorra, Catalan. However, Spanish and French are considered to be vehicular languages and many different subjects are taught in them throughout the Spanish education system.
- The Maria Moliner Spanish language school covers nursery through to secondary and baccalaureate (from 3 to 18 years of age). It is a secular school and is subsidised by the Spanish government. In addition, it is also an examination centre for the entrance exams to vocational training and the ESO Graduate for over 18s.
It is also the only centre in Andorra to take the DELE (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera) exam.
- Mare Janer, Sagrada Familia and Sant Ermengol schools are denominational and subsidised by the Andorran government, but follow the Spanish education system.
- Agora International School, a public school, also offers the Spanish education system but with a more international focus and a higher percentage of teaching in English.
The Andorran Education System
It is a system similar to the Spanish one but with a greater focus on Andorra and all the knowledge related to the Principality.
- It depends on the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of Andorra with three secretaries of state, managed by the Consell de les Escoles.
- The main objective is to promote the culture, values, identity, history and local geography of Andorra. Based on the freedoms, principles and rights established by the Andorran Constitution.
- There is one Andorran school for every seven parishes that make up the country of Andorra. The nursery and primary schools are in Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, Ordino, Canillo, Pas de la Casa, Sant Julià de Lòria, La Massana and also in Andorra la Vella, the Andorran capital.
- The secondary schools are in Ordino, Encamp and Santa Coloma. The baccalaureate centre is in Andorra la Vella.
- All the educational centres make up the Andorran School.
- The basic language of the Andorran education system is Catalan.
The French Education System
- It is fully funded by the French government.
- The curriculum provided is French and depends on the French education authorities.
-The basic and vehicular language of the French education system in Andorra is French.
- The Education Agreement between the French Government and the Government of the Principality of Andorra was signed in 2004.
- Andorra has numerous nursery, primary and secondary schools, including Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany. There are also seven primary schools: Encamp, Sant Julià de Lòria, Ordino, La Massana, Santa Coloma, Canillo and Pas de la Casa. There is also the Lycée Comte de Foix.
As can be seen, families with children in Andorra can find a very complete and varied educational offer.
University of Andorra
Primary and secondary education in Andorra is advanced, flexible and multilingual. This allows young people to have an immense variety of opportunities, apart from being able to continue studying in Andorra, they can go to Spain or France. Higher education in Andorra is complicated. There is only one centre in the Principality, the Andorran University, which was inaugurated in 1997. This only Andorran university offers few opportunities, which motivates students to study abroad, in Spain or France.
Although the Andorran University is relatively young, it evolves very fast. For example, in a study of job placement carried out in 2018 by the Andorran Higher Education Quality Agency (AQUA), it turned out that more than 90% of graduates find a job before finishing their studies or during only the first month of their search.
CONTACT US
Our Telephone:
The degree courses offered at the Andorran University are: Law, Business Administration and Management, Nursing, Humanities, Teaching, Computer Science, Language and Communication. The first four degree courses are face-to-face, the others are offered virtually in collaboration with other universities.
The Andorran University also offers several masters and other postgraduate courses, so it is always best to find out first hand to get all the latest information.
The degrees of the first university cycle taught are bachelors of 180 European credits, structured in three academic years. They are adapted according to the guidelines of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and are recognised by the countries that make up the EHEA.
Registration fees are affordable, the Andorran University has its own campus in Sant Julià de Lòria and is a member of various international institutions such as the International Association of Universities and the Association of European Universities.
Other tertiary education centres in Andorra
Apart from the Andorran University, the Principality is home to other tertiary education centres. Of particular note is the Andorra Aviation Academy and a highly recognised and prestigious school of tourism and hotel management of the subsidiary VATEL. The VATEL school is considered one of the best in the world in International Hotel Management. We also have the "Centro de Formación Profesional" and the "Centro de Formación para Adultos (CFA)" in Aixovall.
Conclusion
The education offered in Andorra is very broad, is considered prestigious, offers many possibilities, is flexible and helps you to internationalise and get great opportunities.
There are not many university degrees on offer, but they are all accredited and offer a wide range of employment opportunities. Tertiary education can be complemented by other tertiary institutions for maximum educational variety and international aspirations.
In order to settle in Andorra more easily, without surprises, safely and comfortably, it is always better to have the support and help of professionals who can accompany you throughout the process of changing residence. At Only Andorra we have a professional team in all areas, including education, tax, accounting, tourism and translation services. With us you will get complete and comprehensive support in your day-to-day life in Andorra.
You can contact us, at Only Andorra we are at your disposal to help you in every possible way in your day to day life so that your visit or residence in the Principality is a pleasant experience with no surprises.
