Council takes action to boost school success of children across the EU
The EU ministers of education agreed on measures to reduce the share of those leaving education and training early and to bring down under-achieving in reading, mathematics and science.
A recommendation on pathways to school success calls on member states to develop strategies towards school success and to minimise the effects of socio-economic status on education and training outcomes.
School and education are the fundament of success and fulfilment in life. This is why we cannot afford if our children drop out of school early or finish training and education without proficiency in basic skills. Well-being is a key lever to bring early school leaving down and to up children’s knowledge in reading, math and science.
Vladimír Balaš, Czech minister of Education, Youth and Sports
Improvement in early leaving rate
The recommendation adopted today replaces a 2011 Council recommendation on policies to reduce early school leaving. Since 2010, the rate of early leavers has decreased by 3.9 percentage points. However, at 9.7 % in 2021 across the EU on average the share is still above the EU’s 9% objective. According to the Education and Training Monitor 2021, the underachievement rate stands at 22.5% in reading, 22.9% in mathematics and 22.3% in science.
Well-being as key to school success
As research highlights that emotional, social and physical well-being in school is important to enhance children and young people’s chances of succeeding in education and in life, the recommendation wants member states to pay special attention to well-being at school. The importance of addressing well-being as a booster of school success has only increased as the COVID-19 pandemic has had detrimental effects on learners’ mental health and well-being in general.
Prevention, intervention and compensation
The recommendation focusses on learners on the one hand but also teachers, trainers and school staff. It suggests to combine prevention, intervention and compensation measures. Compensation measures are aimed at re-engaging people who have dropped out of education, for instance by strengthening career guidance and counselling.
Background
The recommendation is combined with a policy framework which serves as a reference tool for national, regional and local policy makers and practitioners in education and training to inspire a systemic policy response to ensure better educational outcomes for all learners.