Navigation path
- European Commission
- Education & training
- Lifelong Learning Policy
European education benchmarks
Targets have been set at EU level, covering common issues at different levels of education and training. The European Commission tracks the average trends in an annual progress report.
The latest report, from November 2012, drew the following conclusions.
1. Early leavers from education and training
Benchmark 2020
The share of early leavers from education and training should be less than 10%.
Breakdown
In 2011, the average share of early leavers was higher for men (15.3) than for women (11.6), and higher for foreign-born (24.9) than for native-born (12.4). On average, the share of early leavers has decreased slower for these underperforming sub-groups, indicating that the gaps have increased.
Best EU performers
Slovenia, Czech Republic, Slovakia
Most progress 2006-2011
Portugal, Malta, Bulgaria
2. Tertiary attainment
Benchmark 2020
The share of 30-34 year olds with tertiary educational attainment or equivalent [1] should be at least 40%.
Breakdown
In 2011, women (38.5%) outnumbered men (30.8%) significantly in terms of tertiary attainment and this gender gap has increased. The difference in tertiary attainment between the native-born and foreign-born was 3.7 percentage points at the EU level, with strong variation across countries.
Best EU performers
Ireland, Luxembourg, Sweden
Most progress 2006-2011
Latvia, Poland, Czech Republic
3. Pre-school participation
Benchmark 2020
At least 95% of children between the age of four and the age for starting compulsory primary education should participate in early childhood education.
Trends
At EU level, this benchmark has increased by more than 3 percentage points during the period 2006 to 2010 underlining significant progress in Member States and the possibility for reaching the benchmark in 2020.
Best EU performers
France, Netherlands, Spain
Most progress 2006-2011
Poland, United Kingdom, Finland
4. Low achievers
Benchmark 2020
The share of 15-year olds with insufficient abilities in reading, mathematics and science should be less than 15%.
Breakdown
The large gender gap in reading performance has widened since 2006, with the share of low achieving boys (25.9%) about twice the share of low achieving girls (13.3%) in 2009. On average, the reading levels of foreign-born lagged far behind those for native-born, even when taking socioeconomic status into account.
Best EU performers
Reading: Finland, Estonia, Netherlands
Maths: Finland, Estonia, Netherlands
Science: Finland, Estonia, Poland
5. Employment rate of graduates
Benchmark 2020
The share of employed graduates (20-34 year olds) having left education and training no more than three years before the reference year should be at least 82%.
Breakdown
At EU level, persons who have graduated at tertiary education level (ISCED level 5 and 6) have an employment rate of more than 10 percentage points higher (82.7%) than those with an upper secondary and post secondary level (71.4%). Likewise, at EU level, men have higher employment rates (79.5% for benchmark) than women (75.1%).
Best EU performers
Netherlands, Malta, Austria
Most progress 2006-2011
Germany, Poland, Sweden
6. Adult lifelong learning participation
Benchmark 2020
An average of at least 15 % of adults (age group 25-64) should participate in lifelong learning.
Breakdown
In 2011, men (8.2%) on average participated less in lifelong learning than women (9.6%). The foreign-born population (9.9%) was on average more involved in learning activities than the native-born population (8.9%).
Best EU performers
Denmark, Sweden, Finland
Most progress 2006-2011
Estonia, Denmark, Sweden