More teachers, new facilities and improvement of services
The increase in the Generalitat's budgets for 2026 allows prioritizing the quality of public services, with special attention to students and educational centers, which will be reinforced with more professionals and investments
The increase in the 2026 Budgets, with a record expenditure of 49.162 billion euros, represents a necessary injection of resources to strengthen one of the Government's priority areas: education. The Department of Education and Vocational Training is one of the main beneficiaries of the new accounts, with an allocation of 8.356 billion euros, 24.5% more than in 2023, representing 20.7% of the Generalitat's total expenditure.
This year, the department will have an additional 1.642 billion euros, an increase in resources that will translate into the expansion of meal and school transport grants – which double their allocation compared to the previous budget –, the improvement of educational support and the construction of new facilities. A total of 314 million euros will be used to build, expand and renovate educational centers and facilities throughout Catalonia.
In total, more than 260,000 children will benefit from meal and school transport grants. Specifically, 214,000 students will receive meal grants and 46,800 will use the school transport service, a measure aimed at guaranteeing access to education throughout the territory.
More teachers
The budgetary increase will also allow for the incorporation of 4,162 new teachers into the educational system, the construction of 21 new centers, and the expansion of 20 more.
Inclusive education will receive an investment of 376 million euros, mainly intended to reinforce the number of specialized teachers (182 million), incorporate new educational support staff (69 million), enhance reception classrooms (75 million), and improve monitoring and training services (50 million).
Regarding the 0 to 3 years stage, the Government will allocate 162 million euros, of which 54 million will be used to consolidate the free service. In parallel, instrumental skills in language, mathematics, and digital mentoring will be strengthened with an investment of 42 million.
Vocational Training also concentrates a significant part of the budgetary effort. Public centers and their facilities will receive 672 million euros, an investment aimed at consolidating and expanding the offer in the face of sustained growth in demand for these studies.
Actions throughout the territory
Beyond the major sectoral allocations, the Budget Bill for 2026 also includes investments and actions in the educational field that will benefit the entire territory.
In Tarragona, 5.4 million euros will be allocated to expand the Institut Escola Joan Ardèvol in Cambrils. The construction of four new schools and institutes will also begin: Escola Bernardí Tolrà in Vila-Rodona, Escola Els Ganxets in Reus, the new school in Maspujols, and the Institut de Miami in Mont-roig del Camp.
The Escola Ramon Estadella i Torradeflot in Guissona, Lleida, will receive 402,461 euros for its expansion. One million euros will also be allocated to expand and adapt the Marinada school in Vilanova de Bellpuig and 380,829 euros for the Institut Ribera del Sió (Agramunt). Furthermore, the Escola Mont-roig in Balaguer will have 1.7 million euros.
In Girona, five new schools will be built with a budget of 10.2 million euros (Alzines Balladores in Sant Feliu de Buixalleu, Sant Jordi in Sant Julià de Llor i Bonmatí, Vall-Llobrega in Vall-Llobrega, Fanals in Castell-Platja d’Aro, and Gonçal Comellas in Avinyonet de Puigventós), and renovation work will be carried out in five more, with 501,240 euros allocated (Escola Veïnat and Escola La Farga in Salt, CEE Mare de Déu del Mont in Vilafant, the Institut de Tossa de Mar, and Escola Annexa-Joan Puigbert in Girona). Public educational centers in the Girona region will have 12,045 teachers.
Finally, in Barcelona, 18.4 million euros will be invested in the new construction of schools and institutes: Escola Sentmenat in Sentmenat, Institut Vallcarca, Institut Escola Trenta Passos in Barcelona, Escola Paco Candel in l’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Institut Les Cinc Sénies in Mataró, and Escola Montcau in Gelida. Additionally, 2.6 million euros will be used to expand and renovate Escola Pau Casals in Sant Llorenç d’Hortons and the Institut Escola de Castellterçol.
Also, 5 million euros will be allocated to the new headquarters of the Institut d'Ensenyaments Esportius de Barcelona and 2.1 million euros to investments from the Pla Clima Escola Barcelona, which promotes actions to adapt Barcelona's schools and institutes to climate change and to improve their energy efficiency.
