Facts and Figures

This publication shows how the academic year is structured (beginning of the year, term times, holidays and examination periods) for each of the 33 countries in the Network. Where times may vary depending on types of (university or non-university) study programme, this is also indicated.

This publication indicates the dates at which the school year begins and the occurrence of holidays throughout it in 33 European countries. Regional variations are also indicated where applicable.

Diagrams providing an overview of the educational structure for mainstream schooling in Europe.

The Eurydice data collection on taught time targets recommended compulsory curriculum by grades/stages for full time compulsory education. The taught time presented in the national figures corresponds to the most common general education programme in the country concerned. It includes the time spent by a student in receiving instruction on all the subjects integrated in the compulsory core or compulsory flexible curriculum in the school premises or in out-of school activities which are formal part of the programme.
The report presents both data by subject and country as annual compulsory taught time in hours of 60 minutes per grade bearing in mind the number of taught days and weeks per year as well as the number and length of the class periods.

This Eurydice data collection and comparative study on Teachers' and School heads' salaries and allowances covers full-time fully qualified teachers and school heads at pre-primary, primary, lower secondary and upper secondary education levels for the 2009/10 school year.

The cross country comparative part focuses on comparing the decision-making levels that are responsible for setting teachers' and school heads' statutory salaries. The minimum and maximum statutory salaries are presented relative to the GDP per capita in each country, with an indication of salary progression and its relation to professional experience. Additionally, the minimum and maximum statutory salaries in PPS EUR are compared with the average actual salaries (where available). The latest increase/decrease in the purchasing power of personnel employed in education in relation to the impact of the economic crisis since 2008 is also analysed. Finally, the different types of allowances that teachers may receive are presented as well as the decision-making levels responsible for their allocation and their levels.

The national description section of the data collection contains the following elements:

• Decision-making levels regarding the salaries in public sector;
• Information on the salaries in the private sector;
• Annual gross basic statutory salaries and annual gross average actual salaries by education level in Euro and national currency;
• Average number of years to be completed to obtain the maximum basic statutory salary;
• Salary increase/decrease in the last two years;
• Salary allowances (decision-making levels and methods for calculation/reference values).

- European Commission Press release