UK’s sits firmly Midtable in educational achievements in Europe

UK 19^th in Europe for educational achievement with fewer adults having a-levels and graduate degrees.

New statistics have come to light this week showing that the UK’s sits firmly in ‘mid-table’ in educational achievement. The new data which is based on the percentage of adults with a education up to a-level, shows that the UK is behind several countries including Poland, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland amongst others sitting 19^th out of 33 countries. The new data showed that 24% of the UK’s population aged 25-64 had not progressed in education past GCSE standard.

The University and College Union (UCU) has come out to say it believes that the UK is in real danger of falling behind our European counter parts, unless the government takes steps to ensure education firmly remains a priority with more opportunities for everyone to attend higher education.

Sally Hunt head of the UCU general secretary, believes that the UK should not accept its position of Mid-table and has commented; “The UK should be at the top of the table when it comes to education. We pride ourselves on being world leaders in many areas and must not settle for mid-table obscurity.

She went on further to comment that new government incentives such as reducing university places and increasing fees up £9,000 a year could make higher education including A-level and graduate degree’s less accessible to everyone, compounding the current mid-table position. Recent figures have already shown a drop in applications to Universities meaning there are likely to be less graduates coming through university however this is tempered with a drop in people aged 18 in the UK.

It is worth a note despite all this that the UK’s has actually increased its percentage of population with A-level and higher year on year since 2002, so it remains to be seen how the governments changes affects the graduate job market and the UK’s place in educational achievement across the world.

Share and Connect

                                    

 What are these?

Follow, connect, link to us
Follow on Twitter		Link to us		Read our Blogg		Connect with us