The influence of demogeographic development on spatial contents and models of primary education in Istria

Abstract

This work explores the influence of demographic processes, especially birth rate’s movements, on the changes in the features and organisation of primary education in Istria between years 2001 and 2017. The analyses were implemented on the level of municipalities and cities, and greater spatial units of Istria – coastal area, the inland and the city of Pula. We analysed the changes in population and student contingent, fluctuations of birth rate, net migration and the changes in primary education (number of students and classes, number of teachers and schools). The results have pointed out to the existence of a positive connection between birth rate’s change and number of students in primary schools, but also that birth rate has a postponed effect on the size of the student contingent. Spatial disparities between the Istria’s inland and coast are determined also in the features of primary education that generally adapts to demographic processes more slowly.

Keywords:

• Istria
• birth rates
• net migration
• student contingent
• class units
• teachers

JEL codes:

• H75
• I2
• J13

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.