Brussels, 24/08/2015 (Agence Europe) - The proportion of early school leavers in the EU is notably higher for non-EU citizens than for nationals from the member states, according to the most recent Eurostat statistics. This indication provides grounds for concern given that education enables migrants to not just acquire the skills for successful integration into the labour market but also contributes to their active participation through the transmission of culture and the values of the country in which they settle.
On 21 August, the statistical office of the European Union, presented a selection of indicators at EU level on educational integration of migrants. These indicators are part of a series of publications on migrant integration, including labour market, social exclusion, risk of poverty and housing data. With regard to education indicators, significant disparities can be observed in the European Union (EU) between non-EU citizens and “nationals” of the reporting country. The proportion of young non-EU citizens affected by early leaving from education and training is more than twice that of nationals. Young non-EU citizens have also a greater risk of being both out of the education system and not in employment.
The main Eurostat conclusions are as follows (four 2014):
A quarter of non-EU citizens aged 18-24 left education prematurely. Non-EU citizens are more than twice as likely to be early school leavers as nationals. One in every four non-EU citizens (25.5%) aged 18-24 in the EU has left education or training prematurely, compared with 10.2% of nationals and 19.2% of citizens of another EU Member State.
More than 20% of young non-EU citizens are neither in education nor in employment (20.6%), education or training (NEETs). The rate among nationals is 12% and 15.5% for nationals from another member state;
Almost a third of non-EU citizens aged between 30 and 34 are higher education graduates (30.2%). For nationals and those from other EU member states, the rate is 38.5% and 39.3% respectively;
A lower educational level prevails among non-EU citizens living in the EU. More than 40% (43.9%) of nationals from countries outside the EU aged between 18 and 64 had a low level of education, while this proportion stood around 23.4% among nationals and 25.9% amongst those from other member states. (Isabelle Lamberty)