Recommended Annual Instruction Time in Full-time Compulsory Education in Europe 2014/15

An analysis of recommended annual instruction time suggests that countries have a very similar focus on key basic competences in compulsory education. At primary level, most countries' main focus is on reading, writing and literature (about 25 % of total instruction time). Mathematics takes the second largest share of total instruction time, at around 15 %. Many countries put a stronger focus on languages at compulsory secondary level compared to primary level. The report also finds that only a minority of countries allow for the flexible allocation of time between and across grades. More...