In Spain politicians of all trends have been fairly successful pushing for  children to do English. That’s why, without ever learning very much, kids here spend some 10, 12 or more years doing English before they reach the age where they can quit.
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As soon as they get to the university and out of their parents’ grip, they drop English, and most university schools do nothing about it.

As a result, once they are in the job market, they are again beginners.

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As a policy this is unintelligible unless you remember the need for publishers to rely on misinformed parents and docile teachers to buy books or recommend them.***

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***In medicine and engineering, both considered the toughest studies, English is a course requirement, but not in economics (!!!), nor in journalism (!!!). Ironically, while toddlers have to learn English, most courses for an English teaching degree are imparted in Spanish, likely because neither students nor teachers feel competent otherwise.

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