Education in Andorra: 3 public systems [2023].
What are the 3 education systems in Andorra?
The Andorran education system is unique for its inhabitants. It is a completely different structure that the Government of Andorra offers to its inhabitants. Although small in size there are three different educational systems: French, Spanish and Andorran.
Those who lived in Andorra years ago did so in historical coexistence of residents from neighboring states: Spain and France. Andorra incorporated its own educational system in the early 1980s in response.
Education in Andorra has an impressive educational system.
The Andorran education system is mainly based on 3 public systems. These public education centers in Andorra are based on:
- The Andorran Educational system.
- The Spanish educational system (the best known school is the Maria Moliner).
- The French educational system (through the French lycee).
These three educational systems mean that any person living in Andorra can choose the specific educational model for their children that best suits them.
The coexistence of these three systems means that children can study in the Spanish system, the French system or the Andorran system at the choice of the families.
This makes Andorra a very interesting country, not only for the fiscal issue and tax optimization, but also for the education system in Andorra that children can receive.
Andorran Educational System
The Andorran educational system, as the main axis of education in Andorra, guarantees, from its own perspective, the unity of the educational process. It is based on the rights, freedoms and principles established in the Constitution and in the Qualified Law of Education and wishes to follow the European orientations in educational matters.
The public centers of the Andorran educational system, with the exception of those intended for higher education, receive the general denomination of «Andorran School».
When comparing Andorra with other European countries, education should never be dismissed as a balanced issue. It is more important for children or minors who have moved from their family to another country because of their own knowledge of what, when and what they are studying. Many doubts about the ability of legal guardians or language to study are frequent.
Here you have more information about one of the Andorran public education schools in Escaldes Engordany.
Common conditions
Although the three educational systems differ, there are certain minimum points.
The Andorran education system in general establishes that education must be carried out at least for a certain number of hours in the official language of the state. The official language of the Andorran country is Catalan, so although the Spanish education system focuses on teaching in the Spanish language and the French education system focuses on French, both must carry out a number of hours of studies in the official language, therefore the teaching must be done in the Catalan language.
The Catalan language is a controversial subject in Andorra which is given a lot of promotion in any school, whether it is through the Spanish system, the French system or the Andorran system.
Private schools in Andorra
Two private schools in Andorra teach mainly English. This is because English speakers recognize that their educational programs are valid.
If you plan to live with children in Andorra, it will relieve the stress of schooling children there. Please do not hesitate to contact us for additional details.
Unlike the Spanish system, the Andorran system and the French system, this one is based on English and Catalan.
Agora Andorra International and the latest addition: The British College Of Andorra
Andorra aims to provide Andorran families and newcomers with an integrated education.
The Agora International School Andorra offers the multilingual school system and is based on a multilingual curriculum in which students focus on the English language.
The Andorran Catalan language is taught at the school as well. In addition, Andorra completes its educational system in several sectors with the British College Andorra.
These two schools are part of the offer of studies or of the offer of private schools in Andorra that bet on teaching in English instead of Spanish or French as the main language.
Primary school (Primera Ensenyança)
Primary education (Primera Ensenyança) represents the first phase of compulsory education for pupils aged 4 to 6.
In the French system as well as in the Spanish and Andorran systems, it takes five years. Students in Andorran education will receive first class education certificates upon completion of their courses from the Government of Andorra and the relevant educational institutions.
At present, there are 25 educational centers providing this stage, which can be divided among the three educational systems. They are distributed according to the specific parish in the country.
End of the journey: The University of Andorra
The school experience of students in the schools of the Principality of Andorra is widely considered to be a good school system.
They offer the opportunity to study in any international institution with all the necessary guarantees.
But students who want to complete the training in the small country of Andorra, are able to complete their studies at the University of Andorra (UDA). Since its introduction in 1997 they have made a rapid evolution, although they did not offer many outlets due to youth.
It is within the association of European universities so you can access the exchange program with other universities thanks to the collaboration of the Government of Andorra with other centers and vocational schools.
Vocational training in Andorra
If after finishing the studies of nursery education, primary education and compulsory secondary education, the person in question is not interested in continuing education through university, he/she also has the opportunity to continue his/her education (always in Catalan at this point) in the vocational training center in Andorra.
If you want more information, visit the official website.
This center offers many options to the general adult public in the Principality of Andorra. Do not hesitate to ask for information about any program they can offer.
I want to reside in Andorra
Do you want to change your residence formally to Andorra? Are you interested in what kind of education or teaching your children can have in Andorra?
Keep in mind that the country’s educational centers are very well established internationally and compete with other countries, especially with neighboring countries such as Spain and France.
Primary education in Andorra, no matter which center you choose in the country, will be at a high level of education as well as nursery education prior to primary education.
Andorra’s centers have a structure, activities and attention according to its population. The care system is practically personalized and parents can rest assured that Andorran centers have many professionals for few children.
These stages are very important for the children, so you must choose well the schools before starting the management and the process of changing residence and school to the Principality of Andorra.
Contact us
If you need information about the structure you need in Andorra to be able to reside in the country or about the requirements established by the government, do not hesitate to ask us for more information.
Please note that the official language in Andorra is Catalan, therefore all the procedures will be carried out in this language in the Principality of Andorra even though we can translate everything. All the forms that are presented in Government must be done in the Catalan language.
If you have more questions about any school or school agreement or if you need to ask us about your embassy or about the requirements of the Government or the schooling of your children, we are at your disposal through our direct whatsapp or through our email.
We help you to settle in the Principality in the easiest way possible with the management of all your procedures. Avoid problems.