School costs and aid in Galicia and the other regions

Terms used

• Xescola — Xescola is Galicia's school book bank, which lends textbooks to pupils from the school's own stock.
• Concertada — A concertada school is privately run but publicly funded, so it charges little or no tuition.
• Comedor — The comedor is the school canteen, where children eat lunch at school.
• ESO — ESO is compulsory secondary education, for pupils aged roughly 12 to 16.

Key rules

• Where to apply: Apply through your child's school or your region's education department, not through a national office.
• Galicia books: In Galicia, textbooks are lent, and you pay for any that are lost or damaged.
• Ceuta and Melilla: Ask the Ministry of Education's office in your city, because there is no regional authority.
• Income: Most aid in the other regions depends on household income.

The short answer

School aid in Spain is not national. Each region sets its own schemes, and the rules differ by region. Galicia (Xescola) and the other regions have distinct schemes. Ceuta and Melilla are managed directly by the Ministry of Education. Always apply through your child's school or the regional education department.

Galicia: the Xescola book scheme

Xescola is Galicia's book bank, run by the regional education department (the Consellería de Educación). Instead of giving families money for books, the school lends them textbooks from its own stock. This replaced the older book-voucher aid.

• Who it covers: pupils in compulsory education, from primary through ESO, in public schools and in concertada schools that take part.
• How to join: apply or enrol through the school. Ask the school office which forms it needs.
• What you must do: return the books in good condition at the end of the year. You pay for any books that are lost or damaged.
• Priority: some groups of pupils are covered first. Ask the school whether your child is in one.

Levels and conditions change with each yearly call, so ask the school for this year's details.

Ceuta and Melilla

Ceuta and Melilla have no regional education authority. The Ministry of Education, Formación Profesional y Deportes manages their schools and school aid directly. It does this through an education office in each city, the Dirección Provincial de Educación.

Admissions, the school canteen (comedor) and book aid are all handled there. Contact the office in your city, or use the ministry's education website. The ministry's name changes with governments, so look for the current title.

The other regions

Every other region runs its own programme. Examples:

• Madrid: the Accede book bank and canteen grants.
• Catalonia: canteen aid through the county council (consell comarcal) and a book reuse system.
• Valencia: the Xarxa Llibres reuse programme.
• Castilla y León: Releo Plus.
• La Rioja, Murcia, Aragón and Extremadura: book banks and canteen grants as well.

Most of these depend on your household income. You usually apply through the school or the regional education department. Programmes and deadlines change, so check the current programme with your region's education department before you plan your budget.

The questions below cover the most common doubts.

Frequently asked questions

Who manages school aid in Ceuta and Melilla?

The national education ministry manages schools and school aid in Ceuta and Melilla directly, because neither city has a regional education authority. It does this through the Dirección Provincial de Educación in each city. Admissions, canteen (comedor) and book aid are published on the ministry's education portal and on the Dirección Provincial pages.

How does Galicia's Xescola book scheme work?

Xescola is Galicia's book-bank scheme, where pupils from primary through ESO borrow textbooks from the school's fund instead of getting vouchers. It covers public schools and the concertada schools that take part. You enrol through the school, return the books in good condition at the end of the year, and pay for any that are lost or damaged.

Do other regions run their own school aid schemes?

Yes, other regions run their own schemes, such as Madrid's Accede book bank, the Valencian Xarxa Llibres reuse programme and Castilla y León's Releo Plus. Catalonia has comedor aid through the consell comarcal. Most are income-based and applied for through the school or the regional education department. La Rioja, Murcia, Aragón and Extremadura also run book banks and comedor grants.