ROME-- Latest statistics show Italy to have the second lowest percentage of university graduates between the ages of 30 and 24, and the fifth lowest regarding school dropout for those aged between 18 and 24. The data comes from the Eurostat report on education.

 The objective of the strategy ‘Europe 2020’ is that the percentage of 30 to 34 year old Europeans with a degree will be at least 40, and those without a GCSE equivalent, less than 10.

 Europe wide, the figures have improved since 2002, when the initiative first began. In 2016, 39.1 per cent of citizens have a degree, as opposed to the 23.6 per cent of 15 years ago, and the overall percentage for school dropouts has gone from 17 to 10.7.

 Although Italy’s results are disappointing when compared with other EU member states’, the peninsula has fulfilled its own national objectives.

 Looking at other EU countries, Lithuania has the highest percentage of graduates 58.7 per cent, followed by Luxembourg (54.6 per cent), Cyprus (53.4%) and Ireland (52.9 per cent). Croatia has the lowest statistic for 18 to 24 year olds without a GCSE equivalent, at only 2.8 per cent. 

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