The EU has set itself some big targets for the level of education among young people by 2030, and it looks like it’s on track to meet them. But this figure doesn’t tell the whole story, as there are big variations between regions.
In 2021, the European Union adopted a resolution setting out four new common objectives for education and training, in accordance with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, which aims to ensure access to a ‘quality education’ at all stages of life.
By 2030 at least 96 per cent of children aged three or over should be registered in education ; the proportion of 18-24-year-olds leaving education prematurely should be reduced to nine per cent or less ; fewer than 15 per cent of teenagers aged 15 should have low literacy, scientific, or numerical skills ; and, last but not least, 45 per cent of 25-34-year-olds should have reached a higher education level.
On the right track – but more hurdles lie ahead
The first 2030 objective, concerning early childhood education, is not far from reach, although further efforts are needed. According to the European education and culture executive agency, the figure stood at 93 per cent in 2021-2022. However, the EUโs demographic decline, with about one million fewer children in this age of early education by 2030, could lead to the closure of many educational centres in rural or less populated areas, which could create a significant setback in meeting this target.
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As for early leavers from school and training, while the majority of member states have met the nine per cent target for 18-24-year-olds, in 2024 this group still represented on average 9.4 per cent of the population in this age bracket. Additionally, annual reports consistently reveal gender disparities, with young men continuing to outnumber their female peers among early leavers. Young people with disabilities and learners from a migrant background are also at higher risk of leaving school early.
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Unfortunately, the EU is further away from its target of reducing the proportion of underachievers to less than 15 per cent by 2030 than it was ten years ago. Once again, there are gender disparities, as well as disparities between urban and rural areas, and between regions where the proportion of young people with higher education qualifications is lower. However, socio-economic background remains the most decisive factor, with disadvantaged pupils being 6.1 times more likely to fail at school.
Finally, the prospect of 45 per cent of EU citizens aged 25 to 34 obtaining a higher education qualification is closer than ever, although none of the EU member states has yet achieved these targets. While the figure was less than 40 per cent in 2019 and 43 per cent in 2023, 44 per cent of citizens had reached a tertiary level of education (ISCED levels 5 to 8), in 2024, according to Eurostat, with thirteen countries above the European objective.
Interestingly, the proportion is higher among women than among men : in 2023 in the EU, 49 per cent of women and 38 per cent of men from 25 to 34 years old had a higher education level.
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Only one in three regions is up to standard
However, there are substantial disparities between European territories.
Twenty-four of the EU’s 242 regions reported fewer than 27 per cent of 25โ34-year-olds with a tertiary-level education. The majority of these regions are located in eastern or southern Europe. These include all of Romania except for its capital region, all of Hungary, four regions in Italy (including Sardinia and Sicily), two regions in the Czech Republic, and the French regions of Corsica and French Guiana.
According to Eurostat, this low level can be explained by rural activity or geographical isolation in these territories. This leads to fewer opportunities for highly skilled employment and fewer people choosing to pursue higher education in these areas.
Meanwhile, 84 regions have reached or surpassed the EU target. However, this distribution is uneven: for example, the capital regions of Belgium, Denmark, France, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden have shown that at least 58 per cent of people aged 25โ34 had attained a tertiary level by 2024, which is far above the EU’s objectives.
The same goes for specific regions with universities and industries specialised in research and innovation like the North of Spain (automotive) or Utrecht and Groningen in the Netherlands (green technologies) or Midi-Pyrรฉnรฉes in France (aerospace).
Finally, the higher proportion of women than men with a higher education level hides disparities between countries. Ireland and France have the smallest gaps (seven and eight percentage points, respectively), while Italy has the largest (only 24 per cent of men, compared to 37 per cent of women, had attained the tertiary level).
It will therefore take time for the European Education Area to come to fruition, but it may be ready by 2030 once all of these objectives have been achieved.
- Author: Romain LโHostis, Euranet Plus News Agency
