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Parliamentary question - E-007716/2016Parliamentary question
E-007716/2016

The ageing teaching workforce

Question for written answer E-007716-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Ilhan Kyuchyuk (ALDE)

According to Eurostat’s data published on 4 October 2016, the teaching workforce continues to age at a rapid rate. In 2014, 2.1 million people were working as primary school teachers in the European Union (EU), 0.2 million of whom (11% of the total) were under 30, while 0.7 million (about 32%) were aged 50 or older. In Italy more than half of teachers fell within the latter age group (53%), High percentages were also registered in Bulgaria, Germany (both 42%) and Lithuania (41%). In secondary schools the share of teachers aged 50 or older was higher (38% or 1.4 million people) and the share of teachers under 30 was lower (8% or 0.3 million people). The highest percentages were registered in Italy (58%) and Estonia (50%), followed by Latvia (49%), Bulgaria and Germany (both 48%). In contrast, there were proportionally fewer teachers in this age group in Malta (15%), the United Kingdom (25%), Luxembourg (26%) and Poland (27%).

— How does the Commission intend to support Member States in their efforts to address potential shortages in the teaching workforce and all the consequences this could entail?— How can the exchange of best practises in this field between the Member States be strengthened?— How is the Commission promoting effective policies to tackle this issue?