EDUCATION: TACKLING EARLY SCHOOL LEAVING.

• Position: Brief article

Hungary has promised to tackle early school leaving as a top priority in the first half of 2011. Other points high on its agenda include promoting early childhood education, pupil and student mobility and educating for European citizenship. Further priorities signalled are supporting talent and promoting the European Higher Education Area.

Hungarians have the notable goal of starting implementation of the Europe 2020' education targets. These set quantifiable objectives of increasing the share of younger people with a higher education qualification or equivalent to 40%. European school dropout rates should fall below 10% by 2020. Hungary will then lead ministers' discussion of the forthcoming EU recommendation on measures to prevent early school leaving. The Commission is also expected to come out with a communication on early childhood education...