Evaluation of Educational Policy Indicators in European Union Countries

Educational policy is one area of public policies not included among the common European Union policies. The European Union, nevertheless, affects the direction of education of the member states and helps their development. The paper deals with selected indicators of educational policy in European Union countries and analyses total expenditures on education and indicators of education, with a particular focus on indicators in terms of the Europe 2020 strategy (Early leavers from education and training, Tertiary educational attainment) and Participation rate of young people in education and training in years 2010-2015. The indicators of educational policy are evaluated by use of hierarchical cluster analysis. The results show differences in the volume of allocated expenditures on education in EU countries, but also in the attainment of the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy in education.