The Education and Training Monitor presents a yearly evaluation of education and training systems across Europe.
The Monitor reports on EU and Member States’ performance in efforts to reduce early high school dropout rates and elaborates on policy priorities for education systems.
Under Education and Training 2020 (ET 2020), a framework for cooperation in education, EU member-states should reduce dropout rates to below 10%. Croatia already has the lowest rate, 3%. On the other side of the scale are Malta and Estonia with a 20% dropout rate.
The survey notes that in Croatia political disagreements have slowed down the implementation of a strategy of education, science and technology and the pertaining curricular reforms. "Political disagreements have slowed down the implementation of the landmark Strategy for Education, Science and Technology and the associated curricular reform. Participation in early childhood education and care and in adult education is extremely low compared to other EU countries."
"The very low early school leaving rate and the high proportion of secondary vocational school graduates entering higher education are the main strengths of the system. International studies point to skills deficiencies among 15-year-olds in numeracy, literacy and reading skills," reads the section on Croatia.
When it comes to investment in education, the Monitor's most recent data (2014) show that public expenditure on education in the EU has started growing again, after three consecutive years of contraction.
EU wide, public investment in education grew by 1.1% annually. About two-thirds of Member States recorded a rise.
In six countries, this increase was greater than 5% (Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Romania and Slovakia).
By contrast, ten Member States reduced their spending on education in 2014 compared to 2013 (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, and Slovenia), according to a press release issued by the European Commission.