C. Principal areas of concern and recommendations

Education

26. The Committee is concerned that women and girls continue to choose fields of education that are traditionally female-dominated (only 26.4 per cent of students enrolled in engineering and architecture and 9.8 per cent enrolled in sports studies are women) and that they remain underrepresented in technical and vocational education. The Committee is also concerned about the low level of school attendance and the high dropout rate among Roma girls, notwithstanding some positive achievements by the State party at the basic level of education in 2013. The Committee is also concerned that the course on education for citizenship and human rights has been replaced with optional courses on civil and social values and ethical values, and that there is currently no mandatory, comprehensive and age-appropriate education in schools on sexual and reproductive health and rights.

27. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(c) Provide mandatory, comprehensive and age-appropriate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights to girls and boys as part of the regular school curriculum, including on responsible sexual behaviour and prevention of early pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, taught by appropriately trained personnel;

Link to full text of the report: Concluding Observations-CEDAW-Spain-2015-eng