Science Education in Europe: National Policies, Practices aand Research BG European Commission Science Education in Europe: National Policies, Practices and Research This document is published by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA P9 Eurydice). Available in English (Science Education in Europe: National Policies, Practices and Research), French (L'enseignement des sciences en Europe: politiques nationales, pratiques et recherche) and German (Naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht in Europa: Politische Maßnahmen, Praktiken und Forschung). ISBN 978-92-9201-218-2 doi:10.2797/7170 This document is also available on the Internet (http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice). Text completed in October 2011. © Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency, 2011. The contents of this publication may be reproduced in part, except for commercial purposes, provided the extract is preceded by a reference to 'Eurydice network', followed by the date of publication of the document. Requests for permission to reproduce the entire document must be made to EACEA P9 Eurydice. Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency P9 Eurydice Avenue du Bourget 1 (BOU2) B-1140 Brussels Tel. +32 2 299 50 58 Fax +32 2 292 19 71 E-mail:
[email protected] Website: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice FOREWORD A basic understanding of science is considered a necessary skill for every European citizen. Concerns about low student performance in basic skills, as revealed by international surveys, led to the adoption in 2009 of an EU-wide benchmark which states that 'by 2020 the share of 15-year-olds with insufficient abilities in reading, mathematics and science should be less than 15 %' (1).