Early education leaving is one of the biggest problems of the formal education system as 1 in 6 young people in Europe leave formal education without the necessary competence and qualifications to enter the labour market successfully and to be a fully active citizen.  It is also a problem that affects more than just those young people who exit their education prematurely. As it is an issue of equity in education, it is a problem for society, state, employers, private sector, civil society, and local communities: consequently, cooperation is needed to tackle it. 

In this paper, the YFJ duly outlines the concept and realities of early school leaving in Europe, and further proposes concrete policy measures for different actors to deal with the issue of early education leaving; and support measures to truly make young people owners of their education.

Youth organizations are assuming their share of the responsibility from preventing early education leaving and of reintegrating early education leavers into educational paths. They will continue to do so, but state clearly that this should be a combined task and duly call on all authorities responsible for education to go beyond the narrow focus on early school leaving and begin a real discussion on what young people need from their education in the 21st century.