This report provides information on the administration and structure of all levels of education and initial vocational training in 17 countries--the 15 Member States of the European Union and Iceland and Norway. Country reports are arranged in a similar way to facilitate comparison. Chapter 1 contains information on each country, the basic principles affecting the education and training systems, the distribution of responsibilities, administration, inspection, financing, private education, and advisory bodies. The following chapters cover preschool, primary, secondary (general, technical, and vocational) education, initial vocational training for young people, and higher education. Sections dealing with curriculum, assessment, teachers, and statistics follow a general description of the objectives and organization of each level. Statistical data cover the number of pupils/students, teachers, institutions and, where available, pupil-teacher ratios, attendance or completion rates, and the options taken up at different stages. Initial vocational training covers programs that are usually outside the formal education system, such as apprenticeship, youth training, and vocational integration programs. After a general outline, the higher education section includes the following: admission, fees/student finance, academic year, courses, qualifications, and assessment. Diagrams of the systems, with brief explanatory notes are found at the beginning of each chapter. (YLB)

This publication describes the education and initial vocational training systems for young people in the Member States of the European Community. The section for each country represents the particularities of the individual nation. In each case, the first chapter deals with the responsibilities for and administration of the education system. The subsequent chapters cover preschool, primary, and secondary (general, technical, and vocational) education and initial vocational training. Each chapter by level of education also contains recent statistical data regarding pupil, teacher, and school numbers. Specific administrative responsibilities for initial vocational training are included in this chapter. Initial vocational training covers provision outside the school system. Diagrams of the education and training systems are found at the beginning of each country's section. These countries are profiled: Belgium, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. (YLB)