Press Release: Progress in tackling early school leaving and raising higher education attainment – but males are increasingly left behind

A majority of EU Member States have made progress on the Europe 2020 education targets to reduce the rate of early school leaving to below 10% and increase the share of young people with higher education (tertiary or equivalent) qualifications to above 40% by 2020, according to new figures for 2012 released by Eurostat on 101 April 2013.

However, there are still wide disparities between Member States and between males and females. The share of young people leaving school early now stands at 12.8% on average in the EU, down from 13.5% in 2011. In 2012, 35.8% of 30-34 year olds in the EU had completed tertiary education, compared with 34.6% in the previous year.

EurActiv, 15.04.13: Eight EU countries hit 2020 education goals early: Eurostat http://www.euractiv.com/priorities/eu-countries-hit-2020-education-news-519080

Eurostat: News Release No.56, 2013: Share of population aged 30 to 34 in the EU27 having completed tertiary education up to 36% in 2012 http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-press-releases/-/3-11042013-BP

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