While programs may be national in origin, support, and monitoring they are often-depending on the country-to a degree or almost completely regional or local at the delivery level. Intra-country variations may be considerable. Cross-national comparative data, therefore, are available only to a limited degree and one must turn to the country-level for further information. On the other hand, there is in Europe a voluntary, cooperative educational database (EURYDICE) and a governmental database assembled in the European Union. The topics of interest range from school meals and after-school programming to special programs for children with handicaps which actively involve parents in planning for their children.

It is beyond the current scope of the Clearinghouse to review the recreational and socialization programs that are independently and privately financed for school age children. Child abuse and neglect and substitute care for children are also not included because of the lack of available international systematic data.

The following tables are available to view and print in pdf format.

• Table 1.31: School schedules and meal provisions in European countries

• Table 1.32: Minimum teaching hours for primary school students, 1995/96

• Table 1.33: Annual teaching hours in public institutions by level of education

• Table 1.34: Usual opening hours of primary schools in EU

• Table 3.31: Educational enrollment by type of program and age group, 1998

• Table 3.32: Age of school enrollment and duration

• Table 3.33: Average mathematics and science achievements of 4th and 8th graders, 1995

• Table 3.34: Percent of 15 to 20 year olds enrolled by age and level of education

• Table 3.35: Youth employment rates by level of educational attainment and age group, 1998

• Table 3.36: Education and work status of the youth population

• Table 3.37: Education and work status of young men, by age group, 1998

• Table 3.38: Education and work status of young women by age group, 1998

• Table 4.21: Ages and duration of schooling

EURYDICE

Readers interested in a fuller description of the different approaches to structuring education in the European Union member countries, the additional European Free Trade Association/European Economic Area (EFTA/EEA) nations, and the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), should click here for European Commission 2000 reports. This report includes information on the age at which children first enter school (including preprimary attendance), the pattern of education, and the content of and end of compulsory education.

Readers interested in a fuller description of the teaching of foreign languages in the European Union member countries, the additional European Free Trade Association/European Economic Area (EFTA/EEA) nations, and the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), should click here for European Commission 2000 reports. This report includes information on the provision, participation, and availability of foreign languages.

Readers interested in a fuller description of special education programs of the European Union member countries, the additional European Free Trade Association/European Economic Area (EFTA/EEA) nations, and the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), should click here for European Commission 2000 reports. This report includes information on the organizational models, provision, participation, curriculum, and financing of special education.

OECD

The indicators in this publication provide information on the human and financial resources invested in education, on how education and learning systems operate and evolve, and on the returns to educational investments. The thematic organization of the volume and the background information accompanying the tables and charts facilitate analyzing education systems across OECD countries. Through the World Education Indicators program, a wide range of non-Member countries have also contributed to this year's edition, extending the coverage of some of the indicators to almost two-thirds of the world population.

References

European Commission, Key Data on Education in Europe (Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Community, 2000).

Eurostat (2004). Development of a Methodology for the Collection of Harmonized Statistics on Childcare. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.