Catalonia's Department of Education has announced an increase in financial aid, known as 'economic backpacks', for vulnerable students enrolled in concerted (private) schools, with the amount rising by 20% from the next academic year. In contrast, the government has decided not to extend this increase to public schools, citing a lack of funds and the considerable investments already made in the public education sector over the past few years. The aid for public school enrollment remains at €385 per student, compared to €988 for those in concerted schools.

These economic backpacks were first introduced five years ago as part of a commitment to reduce school segregation, aiming to equitably distribute vulnerable students between public and concerted institutions. Despite the need to review the aid amount for public schools, the Education Department justifies the decision by highlighting the recent injection of €2 billion into the public system over four years, as opposed to €390 million into the concerted system over the same time frame. This decision has sparked discussions on equity and the adequacy of funding models for education in the region.

The implications of this decision are significant, as it could exacerbate existing inequalities between public and private education in Catalonia. Critics argue that while the increase for concerted schools is a step toward supporting vulnerable populations, ignoring public schools undermines efforts to provide equal educational opportunities. The situation requires ongoing scrutiny from advocates of educational equity, who are concerned about the long-term effects of such disparities in funding on the social fabric of the region.