Moyano Law

The Moyano Law, enacted in Spain in 1857, was the nation's first comprehensive public education plan. This law remained largely unchanged until 1970, when it was replaced by the General Law on Education. The Moyano Law established a structured school system, including preschool, primary school (ages 6-11), secondary school (ages 12-16), baccalaureate school (ages 17-18), and university. Education was made free and compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 16, leading to literacy rates exceeding 95 percent. The law also addressed the historical tension between the state and the Roman Catholic Church over education, laying the groundwork for the state's increasing predominance, particularly in secondary education.1