SPAIN: Education Downfall & more – 10th September 2026

Buenos días from Gracia! This is the Rorshok Spain Update from the 10th of September twenty twenty-six. A quick summary of what's going down in Spain

Kicking things off this week, on Tuesday the 8th, the country’s latest PISA education results aren’t looking good in math, reading or science.

Across the board, there seems to be a significant decline across the three subjects for participating fifteen-year-olds, continuing a downward trend that began in two thousand and fifteen. However, compared with two thousand and fifteen, the number of low-performing students has increased by 11% in maths, 15% in reading and 6% in science.

The country performed below most European countries, although its education system showed relative success in supporting disadvantaged students, which PISA identifies through the Economic, Social and Cultural Status Index, taking into account parental education, job status and home equipment like laptops.

Another major finding off the back of the PISA results was that fifteen-year-old students nationally are some of the world’s most frequent users of AI for their schoolwork.

The country ranks fourth among AI-participating countries for AI use, behind Colombia, Türkiye and Malta. Around 54% of students use AI at least weekly to help with learning, while 33% use it for written assignments, both above global averages. Only 20% say they never or rarely use AI to research a new topic.

While AI can obviously support learning by providing concise on-demand feedback and summarizing teaching notes, excessive or unguided use can spread misinformation and reduce mental effort.

PISA, however, after accounting for socio-economic factors, has summarized that this overreliance on AI could be associated with a decline in results, especially in science. Interestingly, though, of all the students who were interviewed, girls tended to use it more, as did students from better socio-economic backgrounds.

Next up. An update on the Ceuta enclave.

On Monday the 7th, the National Court opened a criminal investigation after just over 70,000 people crossed from Morocco to the Spanish enclave back in July. Investigators are looking into whether there are grounds to prosecute crimes involving territorial integrity, a core principle of international law saying that countries must not use force to violate the borders of other sovereign states.

The case will also look further into a national police report alleging that Moroccan security forces showed total permissiveness, making little effort to stop the crossings and, in some cases, actively guided migrants towards Ceuta.

However, diplomatic ties are obviously still important, as the central government stressed that there is presently no conclusive evidence that Moroccan forces organised or deliberately facilitated the crossings.

Moroccan authorities have not responded publicly to the police report, but media outlets have criticised it for lacking evidence.

And Ceuta isn’t the only ongoing investigation. The country is facing growing questions from other countries over its handling of Palestinian students in Gaza who have been accepted by Spanish universities but are unable to leave the territory.

As of Wednesday the 9th, an estimated forty to sixty students hold university places or scholarships in Spain, but only nineteen have been evacuated since October twenty twenty-three. Italy has evacuated nearly 270 students, while the UK has facilitated the safe passage of 147 students and family members.

The main problem is the complex documentation and visa procedures, many of which news outlets report remain unprocessed, meaning students are losing scholarships and university places. Evacuation routes are another key issue, which often require students to travel through Israel or Jordan, adding further blockades to their access to education.

For its part, the central government says it is working through diplomatic channels and highlights its humanitarian assistance to Gaza, but has offered little explanation for the delays.

Universities say they have created pathways to support the students once political permissions are secured, but there isn’t much they can do until they are in the country.

Staying in the Middle East, recent threats from the US could disrupt the country’s saffron trade, after the States announced tougher sanctions against Iran and its trading partners.

While saffron is produced in Castilla-La Mancha, central Spain, the EU market increasingly relies on Iran for more consistent deliveries. In fact, on Monday the 7th, news outlet Al Jazeera reported that nationally, companies imported around sixty million euros worth of Saffron from Iran in twenty twenty-five, more than 40% of the total imports from the Middle Eastern country.

The state trade agency says disruptions would be more likely to affect businesses than domestic supplies, as nationally grown saffron could help meet demand, but the impact is still unclear. The issue comes amid already strained US-Spanish relations over Iran, NATO and defence spending.

Meanwhile, in motoring news. From 1 October, new traffic regulations will apply to motorcyclists.

Under the Royal Decree, riders must wear approved protective gloves on inter-urban roads and fully enclosed footwear on all roads. Helmets must also be officially approved for use, rather than merely certified.

The rules also change how the hard shoulder can be used. During traffic congestion, motorists may use it at a maximum speed of 30 km/h when signs specifically permit this, helping to improve safety and traffic flow.

And it’s not just on highways. Delivery riders will also need to adhere to additional requirements. Couriers working on the road must wear a high-visibility vest to make them more visible to other road users. Non-compliance varies, but on-the-spot fines could be over 200 euros.

Speaking of the US, the country is considering bringing home some of the gold reserves it keeps at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as European nations increasingly rethink where they store their bullion. The Netherlands, France and Germany have already repatriated gold, and politicians in Italy are pushing for a similar move.

Concerns over geopolitical instability, particularly after Western governments froze Russian assets following the invasion of Ukraine, have fueled the debate. Spain holds about 281 tonnes of gold worth an estimated 33.2 billion euros, although the national bank hasn’t disclosed exactly how much is stored abroad.

Supporters argue that repatriation would strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy and enhance national security. On the other hand, opponents counter that the country only keeps a limited share of its reserves in the US, meaning a transfer would deliver little practical benefit while risking unnecessary political tensions.

Back on home soil, Josep Lluís Trapero resigned as director general of the Catalan police on Wednesday the 9th after two years in the role, amid growing tensions within the Mossos d'Esquadra and the Catalan Interior Department.

His departure followed months of clashes with Interior Minister Núria Parlon. A key dispute centred on a controversial incident in which two Mossos officers secretly attended a teachers' meeting, prompting accusations of police surveillance and criticism from the Catalan Parliament. Tensions escalated when Trapero refused to dismiss a senior commander over the affair. Relations were further strained by another controversial police operation that was later thrown out by a judge.

Initially welcomed back as a stabilising figure after the Catalan independence votes, Trapero increasingly faced criticism for becoming too involved in operational matters and relying on a close circle of trusted allies.

His resignation matters because it raises wider questions about police oversight, civil liberties and political influence in Catalunya’s security forces.

Music is in the air as the country’s recorded music market is having a strong twenty twenty-six, growing just under 12% compared with last year and generating more than 180 million euros in wholesale revenue and 320 million euros at retail, according to trade association PROMUSICAE.

Spain is also outperforming several major European markets, including Germany. And just when we thought physical music was history, vinyl and even CDs are making a comeback, with physical music revenue rising 20% to more than twenty million euros.

The figures point to a music industry that is not only growing, but diversifying as Spaniards embrace both streaming and physical formats.

In nature news, Cantabrian brown bears are making a remarkable recovery in the north of the country after coming close to extinction, with their population rising from about sixty in the late nineteen eighties to more than 500 today.

Tourism is also playing a growing role in conservation. Licensed guides take visitors bear-watching while keeping them away from sensitive habitats. Supporters say the tours create jobs for local communities and offer a more sustainable source of income than hunting.

Feeling hungry? Octopus pizza is becoming the latest culinary attraction in Betanzos, a Galician town already famous for its almost-liquid tortilla.

Chef Belmonte of Adega do Pino helped popularise the unusual combination after perfecting his recipe for a national Spanish gourmet pizza competition. He topped the pizza with octopus, turnip greens and prawns, blending classic Galician ingredients with Italian pizza. After winning the competition, a video of his creation went viral, bringing curious customers to his restaurant.

Other restaurants across Galicia have since embraced octopus pizza, turning the dish into a new local food trend.

But there’s a bigger question behind the craze: as eating octopus becomes increasingly controversial around the world, with some diners choosing to avoid it over animal-welfare concerns, could dishes like this eventually become a thing of the past? For now though, Galicia is doubling down on its favourite seafood.

And finally, if you can work from anywhere, why not work from Spain?

News outlet We Heart highlights how Mediterranean cities such as Valencia and Málaga are becoming major hubs for remote workers, with coworking spaces and laptop-friendly cafés popping up across the coast.

The country’s digital nomad visa has helped attract remote professionals, but the lifestyle is arguably an even bigger draw.

The trend is already reshaping local neighbourhoods, with old warehouses becoming coworking spaces and cafés doubling as offices. Remote workers aren’t just changing where people work nationally - they’re changing the character of its coastal cities.

For the full article, check it out in the show notes!

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Aaand that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

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¡Hasta la próxima!