The weighting factors should be calculated taking into account in particular the probability of selection and the available external data relating to the distribution of the population being surveyed, according to sex, age groups (25-34; 35-54; 55-64), education (at most lower secondary education (ISCED level 1 or lower, ISCED 2 and ISCED 3 programmes of less than 2 years); upper secondary (ISCED levels 3 and 4); tertiary education (levels 5 to 8)); employment (employed or unemployed); region (NUTS II level), where such external data are held to be sufficiently reliable at national level.

The Commission, in its Communication on Tackling Early School Leaving, refers to early school leavers as individuals between the age of 18 and 24 who have left education and training with only lower secondary education or less.

I would like to stress that, in promoting university education, we should not undermine vocational education at a lower level – at lower or upper secondary level.

at least nine years" secondary education, followed by two to three years" post-secondary education in technical professions or in an apprenticeship or in commercial professions, or

The Commission conducted a pilot project during the academic year 1997/1998 in 101 upper and lower secondary schools in the countries participating in the Socrates programme, which raised awareness of quality issues and helped to improve the quality of education in those schools( ).

The Commission conducted a pilot project during the academic year 1997/1998 in 101 upper and lower secondary schools in the countries participating in the Socrates programme. An Advisory Working Party that brought together Member States" appointed experts on education evaluation assisted the Commission in the implementation of the project.