“The country has been able to qualify its youth. We have made an impressive leap in the level of qualification and education in Portugal. Parents in the fourth grade, with the fifth grade, with the children who have graduated. In fact, it has taught the country a lesson, in the ability that he had in just a few years To skip generations, and qualify, and we are today We are at the level of the most developed countries in Europe“, said Pedro Nuno Santos, leader of the Socialist Party, yesterday when speaking at a rally held in Portalegre.
Does this last claim have factual support?
According to the latest data (until 2022) from Eurostat, the European Union's statistical service, only people aged 25-64 years 31.5% of the Portuguese population (in this age group) have higher education qualifications.
And the 19 lowest percentage In this indicator among the 27 EU member states, it lags far behind countries such as Ireland (53.5%), Luxembourg (52.3%) or Sweden (48.6%). And lower than the EU average of 34.3%.
However, Pedro Nuno Santos referred more specifically to “youth,” so we must analyze data that refers to the population Between 25 and 34 years old.
In this age group, 44.4% of the Portuguese population have higher education qualifications. It is practically located in the middle of the table of the 27 member states of the European Union. In fourteenth place. In fact, this percentage is slightly higher than the EU average of 42%.
However, the reality is that it is still a long way from the most developed (and eligible) country, Ireland (62.3%(and Luxembourg)61%) which tops the table in this indicator.
The Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Spain and France also have percentages greater than 50%above the level of Portugal.
Among the countries that are generally considered the most developed in Europe, Germany only (37.1%) They have a lower percentage than in Portugal, due to the peculiarity of the (dual) education system that gives priority to access to vocational training (through an examination process as early as 10 years of age).
In short, Pedro Nuno Santos is right even when he points to a “leap” in the qualifications of young people, compared to previous generations, which is evident in the difference between the different age groups analyzed in this article. but, induction He concluded, “Today we are at the level of the most advanced countries in Europe.”
In fact, the “jump” was significant, but in the proportion of young people with higher education He has not yet reached the highest levels From the table. In fact, it has not even reached the level of 45%, the target set by the European Union that must be achieved by 2030.
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