New Education and Training Monitor for the evaluation of young Europeans.

The Commission’s Education and Training Monitor 2024, launched today on the occasion of Education for Climate Day 2024, takes a closer look at how the basic skills of Europe’s young people are evolving and provides figures for each Member State.

Overall, performance in reading, maths and science has fallen to record lows across the EU among 15 year olds, and school closures in the wake of COVID-19 have exacerbated already declining trends. One in three pupils cannot do basic maths and one in four performs poorly in reading and science. The analysis shows that young people from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds are six times more likely to perform suboptimally compared to their advantaged peers.

This year’s Monitor also focuses on learning for sustainability, showing that most EU education systems have started to help schools develop learning for sustainability.

The Education and Training Monitor is an annual series of reports from the European Commission that opens the door to all information on learning in the EU. The 2023 edition also focuses on the shortage of teachers in Europe.

The Commission’s flagship initiative “Pathways to success in school” promotes better educational outcomes for all pupils, regardless of their socio-economic, cultural or personal background. In the new Commission 2024-2029, activities to promote basic skills will be prioritised and a related action plan to help Member States further strengthen the development of basic skills for all young people and improve educational outcomes from early childhood and at all stages of education. More information on the 2022 PISA results for EU countries can be found here. The EU also encourages and supports the education and training sector to take action for a greener and more sustainable future and to strengthen learners’ sustainable skills.

More information: European Commission.