Well speaking for Portugal, we have had education cuts since around 2000.

Unless you live in big cities, there are also not that many libraries to go to, or the possibility to connect to the Internet in a workable manner.

Sure, when one wants to learn, even with limited resources, they might try to. However, the majority just won't bother.

Yeah, I'm aware (fellow countryman here ;), but as far as I know Spain hasn't had our eternal crisis. In fact, I believe they had a decent surplus for a number of years.

The problem with Spain is that every time a new government is elected they decide to change the education system. And not for a better one. So there's no plan for the near future, and the investment of R&D is ridiculous and inefficient (half of the funds are never granted). The best of the best have to leave the country.