1. Education and inequality in the EU Dr. Angelos Agalianos angelos.agalianos@ec.europa.eu European Commission, Directorate-General for Education & Culture Rome, 10 June 2011

2. 2 Growing unequal With severe consequences – also for the well-off (OECD, 2008; Wilkinson & Pickett, 2009) 84 million Europeans in poverty; around 20 million are children Those living in poverty face greatly reduced educational prospects and future life chances

3. 3 Inequalities in education and training persist In all European education systems In access, in treatment and in outcomes Reflect and often compound wider socio-economic disadvantage

4. 4 The dark side of the whiteboard (1) 6M 4-year-olds not in early childhood education and care 1 in 6 drop out with lower secondary or lower Early school leaving almost double for migrant-background students Migrant and Roma overrepresented in special needs

5. 5 The dark side of the whiteboard (2) Wider participation in higher education has not reduced inequality 80 million adults with severe deficiencies in basic skills Private tutoring is widespread … EU and national averages conceal very unpleasant local and regional realities

6. 6 Inequalities in education Violate basic precepts of social justice and human development Undermine economic prosperity of nations, democracy, social cohesion Have huge financial costs -rarely shown in public accountancy systems Are neither natural nor inevitable Urgent need to develop not only more efficient but also more inclusive and equitable E&T systems

7. 7 Inequalities persist in E&T Complexity Insufficient investment or inefficient use of resources Lack of political commitment Territorial policy-making Lack of policy evaluation, continuity or long-term planning Competing or conflicting national agendas Economic recovery imperatives …

8. 8 What is the Commission doing about all this? EU2020 Strategy: smart, sustainable and inclusive growth – EU anti-poverty platform Communication Efficiency and Equity in European Education and Training Systems (2006) + Council Conclusions Public consultation on education & migration (2007) and Council Conclusions (2009) May 2010 Council Conclusions on the social dimension of E&T

9. 9 Other relevant EU-level work European “package” to reduce early school leaving (Jan. 2011) – Council Recommendation adopted on 20 May 2011 Communication on Early Childhood Education and Care (2011) 2010-2011 report: Progress towards the Lisbon Objectives in Education and Training –indicators and benchmarks (April 2011) Opportunities for national policy makers to learn from each-other Independent thematic reports for policy makers: www.nesse.frwww.nesse.fr

10. 10 A new Commission’s Communication in 2012 Equity in education and training to support European inclusive growth Will emphasise need for joined-up measures

11. 11 2012 COM likely to address Early school leaving from initial VET Disability/special needs The regional/geographic distribution of educational inequality in the EU Roma learners Low-skilled and long-term unemployed Inequalities in tertiary education Private tutoring in the EU Measuring and monitoring for equity WHAT ELSE..? Or WHAT INSTEAD..? –please tell us