Comparative report
Foreword
Mariya Gabriel
European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth
The past two and a half years have been dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Disruptions to activities in schools, universities and training centres have had severe consequences, not least on teachers’ and young people’s well-being. The impact of the ongoing Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is also reverberating throughout Europe’s schools, teachers and the education community at large.
Still, our education institutions and teachers continue to demonstrate both their immense dedication and their great capacity for flexibility and innovation. They show resilience, successfully overcome digital and pedagogical challenges, and act to ensure the continuity of learning.
These challenging times have highlighted inequalities still permeating our education institutions. Equity and inclusion in education and training demand us to eradicate the negative effects of individual circumstances on people’s prospects in life, such as a learner’s gender, home situation, disability, or having a migrant background. Our education institutions and teachers deserve all the support we can give them to work towards breaking cycles of disadvantage, some of which continue to be passed down through generations.
This year’s Education and Training Monitor accompanies our stocktaking of progress towards the European Education Area. The Monitor’s comparative report tracks progress towards the EU-level targets agreed by the Member States of the EU and shows how countries stand in relation to them. The report complements the targets with a rich supporting evidence base, capturing policy levers and contextual factors that may shape future successes.
The Education and Training Monitor continues to provide crucial analytical input to shape our education and training policies in support of an inclusive COVID-19 recovery, to increase our systems’ resilience during times of disruption and, ultimately, to develop education and training systems that lead to better jobs and better lives. I trust that the report will inform our discussions with stakeholders, including governments, experts and international organisations, as well as the wider public, so that we can achieve our common vision for the European Education Area.