Educational System Indicators in OECD and EU Countries

This chapter presents key educational indicators from OECD and EU countries, offering a comparative perspective on system performance and policy effectiveness. The analysis reveals significant disparities in enrollment rates, particularly in early childhood education, where access remains highly dependent on policy frameworks and socioeconomic factors. While vocational training plays a critical role in workforce preparation, its participation rates vary widely, with countries like Germany showing strong integration with labor markets, whereas others, such as Spain, struggle with high dropout rates. Education funding remains a major determinant of system quality, but cross-country differences persist in expenditure levels, per-student spending, and financial aid policies. Countries with well-funded early education programs tend to exhibit stronger learning outcomes later, as evidenced by PIRLS, TIMSS, and PISA results. However, the chapter highlights a concerning trend: declining student performance in mathematics, reading, and science across most OECD countries, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating pre-existing learning gaps. Moreover, the chapter explores the link between education and labor market outcomes, demonstrating that higher educational attainment is strongly associated with lower unemployment and higher earnings. Nevertheless, socioeconomic disparities persist, as students from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to leave school early and attain lower levels of education, reinforcing intergenerational inequality. These findings underscore the need for targeted policy interventions to improve equity, enhance the effectiveness of vocational education, and strengthen foundational skills from an early age. The chapter provides evidence-based insights into how education policies can foster economic mobility and reduce disparities, emphasizing the importance of sustained investment in education systems to promote long-term growth and social cohesion.