Despite a general improvement in education and training performance in the EU, progress is too slow, which means that most of the targets set for 2010 will not be met. At the same time, the economic downturn underlines the urgency of reform and continuous targeted investment in education and training systems.

These are the main conclusions from two reports on the progress of education reforms and European co-operation presented by the European Commission today. Speaking at the launch of the reports, the EU Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, Maroš Šefčovič, said: “Education reforms in the EU have come a long way, but we must not lose momentum now. In particular, we need more and better investment in education and training, so that Europeans are better prepared to find jobs, and to increase our ability to innovate in the long term.”

Commission Progress report towards the Lisbon Objectives in Education and Training - Indicators and Benchmarks 2009

This annual report looks at Member States' progress towards five key benchmarks in education and training for 2010.

• Although progress was achieved, four of the five 2010 benchmarks for education and training are not likely to be met. Only the benchmark on increasing the number of graduates in maths, science and technology was reached. Three benchmarks were not reached, despite the progress made: adults' participation in lifelong learning, reduction in the share of early school leavers, and increase the numbers of young people completing upper secondary education. One benchmark even deteriorated since 2000: the performance in the reading ability of 15 year-olds.
• On the positive side, the number of very young children in education has risen, as well as the overall participation in initial education and the education levels of EU citizens in general. The number of working age adults (aged 25 – 64) with low educational attainment has fallen by more than one million per year since 2000. Nevertheless, this still accounts for 77 million adults, or close to 30 % for the EU as a whole.
• Other areas where progress has been achieved include language learning in schools and the mobility of students in tertiary education, which has increased by more than 50 % since 2000.

Figures for Ireland tend, on the whole, to be more positive than the EU average.

• The percentage of 15 year-olds who are low achievers in reading was 12.1% in Ireland against an EU average of 24.1%; the percentage of low achievers in maths in the same age group was 16.4% in Ireland compared to 24% across the EU
• The percentage of early school leavers in Ireland stands at 11.3%, lower than the EU average of 14.9%. The target for 2010 is that this figure should not exceed 10%.
• 87.7% of young people in Ireland (in the 20-24 age bracket) have completed secondary education; across the EU the corresponding figure is 78.5%. The target for 2010 is 85%
• With regard to higher education, 46.1% of Irish 30-34 year-olds have completed a third level degree; the percentage across the EU is significantly lower at 31.1%
• On the other hand, the numbers of university graduates in maths, science and technology fell in Ireland by 3.6% since 2000 while across Europe it has risen by 33.6%.
• Also, the percentage of adults participating in lifelong learning in activities is lower in Ireland - 7.1% against an EU avearge of 9.5%. The target is a participation rate of 12.5%
• Finally, Ireland spends on education 4.86% of its GDP - a figure close to the EU average of 5.05%.