Greece Among Europe’s Top in Educational Attainment

A recent Eurostat report reveals that Greece ranks above the European average in educational attainment, with 32.4% of its population aged 25-74 holding higher education degrees.

This places Greece ahead of many stronger European economies and highlights the country’s significant emphasis on education despite economic challenges.

At the European level, 31.8% of individuals in the same age group have attained higher or tertiary education, a significant increase from just 19.1% in 2004. The report also shows that Greece has a notably high proportion of general secondary education graduates, at 26.3%, more than double the EU average of 9.6%.

Ireland leads Europe in educational attainment, with 49.8% of its adult population holding higher education degrees, followed closely by Luxembourg, Sweden, and Norway. Greece’s standing is particularly impressive considering its economic position, outperforming major economies like Germany and Italy, where the rates of higher education graduates are 31.5% and 18.5%, respectively.

The report underscores the importance of public education in Greece, which, despite structural weaknesses and underfunding, continues to produce graduates at levels comparable to more affluent European nations. This achievement is attributed to the strong cultural value placed on education within Greek society.

In 2023, 43% of the EU population aged 25-34 were higher education graduates, with Greece slightly above the European average at 44.5%. However, the report raises concerns about neoliberal educational reforms in Greece, which could shift focus away from general education in favour of vocational training and apprenticeships, potentially undermining the country’s educational achievements.

As Greece continues to perform well in educational attainment, the report calls for increased support and investment in public education to maintain and build on these successes.

Read more: Eurostat reports

(Source: In.gr)