Does compulsory education mean obligation to attending schools in Europe? Do parents have the right to educate their children at home? Under which conditions can parents exercise this right? Policies and legislation on home schooling vary greatly across Europe. This short report provides a comparative overview on national policies in the 38 countries participating in the Eurydice network. The comparative overview is complemented by short national descriptions.

Is there anywhere in Europe where students can study without paying fees? Which countries charge the highest fees? What kind of financial support is offered to students, and who actually receives it? When students plan for higher education, one important element to consider is how much it will cost and whether they can receive any financial support. Reliable information on the costs and available support in higher education is essential. The report shows how fee and support systems, including grants and loans, interact in higher education in Europe.

"Solidarity is the glue that keeps our Union together" - Jean-Claude Junker, State of the European Union address to the European Parliament, September 2016

Solidarity is a word often used when speaking of European construction. But is it still relevant in today’s European Union? Solidarity is not an easy topic for the European Union these days. Yet there are also indications of different possibilities. An example is the recent initiative to establish an 'EU Solidarity Corps' - a cross-national service where young people can take part in social projects. Because solidarity and Human Rights go hand in hand.

Education is not preparation for life: education is life itself, John Dewey

It is becoming increasingly clear that the Covid-19 pandemic is forcing us to change the way we do almost everything – including admission to higher education. What will happen this year? A map on how the new coronavirus is impacting higher education institutions is included in the article.

Looking for concise information on the duration of compulsory education/training in 43 European education systems? In this new Eurydice's publication, you will find the following content: the duration of compulsory education/training throughout Europe, the starting and finishing ages of pupils in compulsory education. You will discover, for example, that in most European education systems, compulsory education starts at the beginning of primary education (ISCED level 1), often at the age of 6. However, attending at least the last year of pre-primary education (ISCED level 0) is compulsory in 19 education systems. France and Hungary report the earliest starting age for compulsory education (3 years old). By contrast, in Estonia and Croatia, compulsory education starts at the age of 7. The information is available for 43 European education systems covering 38 countries participating in the EU's Erasmus+ programme.

If you are a young European adult, you have probably spent a great amount of your time in a school, and if you are a European toddler, you will most probably spend even more time in school. According to the European Commission, almost all children from the age of 4 are now involved in some form of early childhood education and care, very close to the ET 2020 target of 95 %. At the other end of the school spectrum, Eurydice reports that many European countries have extended the number of years of compulsory education since the 1980s.

Does compulsory education mean obligation to attend schools in Europe? Do parents have the right to educate their children at home? Under which conditions can parents exercise this right? Policies and legislation on home schooling vary greatly across Europe. This short report provides a comparative overview on national policies in the 38 countries participating in the Eurydice network. The comparative overview is complemented by short national descriptions.

Does compulsory education mean obligation of attending schools in Europe? Do parents have the right to educate themselves their children and under which conditions? Policies and legislation on home schooling vary greatly across Europe. This short report provides a comparative overview on national policies in the 38 countries participating in the Eurydice network. The comparative overview is complemented by short national descriptions.

This Eurydice chapter focuses on the organisation of different education systems with a special attention to teachers and education staff. You will find accurate information on three major topics: initial teacher education and training, conditions of service, and continuing professional development. You can also access country's specific information by clicking on the tab "This chapter by country".

The higher education sector has experienced profound changes in recent years. Student numbers have continued to increase, while the sector has diversified and experienced significant structural changes, such as new funding arrangements, and new quality assurance systems. The challenges for academic staff have also been growing. Staffs are responsible for teaching ever greater numbers of students, undertaking research, and responding to growing societal needs, while academic jobs become more competitive, and job security more tenuous. "Modernisation of Higher Education in Europe: Academic Staff – 2017" explores the current realities for academic staff within this changing higher education landscape. The report focuses on the qualification requirements for academic staff, the recruitment process, employment and working conditions in academia, the impact of external quality assurance, and top level strategies for internationalisation.

At a time when the importance of teachers is becoming increasingly apparent, what are the main challenges in the teaching profession related to supply and demand? How do education systems address these issues? How does one qualify to be a teacher? What support is available once qualified? What are the career opportunities in this profession? The comparative overview of national policies on teacher careers across Europe, which covers 43 European education systems, provides an analysis of different aspects of the teaching profession. The report focuses on primary and general secondary education. The main themes include: forward planning and main challenges in teacher supply and demand, entry to the teaching profession and teacher mobility, continuing professional development and support, career development, and teacher appraisal.

The Eurydice Network's task is to provide reliable information and comprehensive analyses of European education systems and policies. The network drafts descriptions of national education systems, comparative studies devoted to specific topics, indicators and statistics.

Through its work, Eurydice aims to promote understanding, cooperation, trust and mobility at European and international levels. All Eurydice publications are available free of charge on the Eurydice website. The network consists of national units located in European countries and is coordinated by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency.

It's time to #BeActive! Being active is easier than it sounds! To prove that, the European Week of Sport has been launched! The idea is to get you and your fellow Europeans moving. This week is for everyone, regardless of age, background or fitness level. So now it’s your turn! Join in on the #BeActive fun in your country or online. Browse around the website to learn all about the events/activities that are being organized all across Europe and let’s #BeActive!

How do countries across Europe organise their education systems? What are the different models of organisation in primary and secondary education in Europe and how long does each educational level last? How diverse are the programmes offered at tertiary level? The answers to all of these questions can be found in the Eurydice's latest publication "The Structure of the European Education Systems". You will discover, for example, that there are three main organisational models of primary and lower secondary education in Europe and how they function. The report includes national schematic diagrams, an explanatory guide and a map showing visually these models. The information is available for 43 European education systems, covering 38 countries participating in the EU's Erasmus+ programme.