Trends in European education during the last decade

This Statistics in Focus presents characteristics of European education and training systems between 2000 and 2009, from when children start in school, until they leave as young adults. It emphasises major trends at each educational level in terms of enrolments, education expectancy, teacher characteristics and graduates. From 2000 to 2009 there was a significant rise in children attending pre-primary education and students could, on average, expect to stay 17 years in education. The number of students in compulsory education has fallen sharply in many countries, particularly in Eastern Europe. There are relatively more men in vocational training, whereas women dominate in tertiary education, with notable subject specific exceptions. Students spend more time in tertiary education but there have also been sharp increases in the number of tertiary education graduates.

Eurostat: News Release No.155, 2011: From 10 to 20 pupils per teacher in primary education across Member States in 2009 http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-press-releases/-/3-25102011-AP

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