Belgium has third-best education system, says OECD

Education in Belgium ranks third-best among the 35 OECD countries, well above the EU and world averages, with the highest level of pre-school participation, good teachers and a broad and flexible higher education system. The ranking is based on a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Belgium is one of only six countries in the EU to meet the benchmark level performance on at least seven out of 10 targets set by the OECD and measured in the report “Education at a glance 2016”. Australia and Canada tied at the top of the list, followed by the Netherlands and Belgium.

The benchmarks and targets, which include literacy and numeracy goals and equal access to higher education, are part of the OECD’s sustainable development goals towards “inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all”.

An accompanying country report on Belgium, however, highlighted the gender imbalances that remain among teaching staff and noted that only 26% of bachelor’s graduates in the field of science, mathematics and computing were women, compared with the OECD average of 40%.

Photo courtesy Stad Gent