EU targets regarding education
In 2000, the European member states have set collective targets for 2010 in Lisbon regarding education. One of the targets was to reduce the proportion of school drop-outs aged in the age category 18–25 to 10 percent.
A second target concerns the concept of lifelong learning. According to the EU targets, at least 12.5 percent of people aged between 25 and 65 should attend some form of education in 2010.
In addition to the EU targets, the Netherlands has formulated its own national, more rigid targets. The proportion of school drop-outs was to be reduced to 8 percent in 2010. Within the context of the concept of lifelong learning, 20 percent should attend some form of education or schooling in 2010. Both targets also apply to 2020.