Promoting equity and improving the quality are two of four main objectives to address challenges in Europe’s education systems until 2020 (ET 2020). In this regard, the European Commission considers the enhancement of literacy in Europe a core field of immediate action (European Commission, 2012).
The aim of this presentation is to investigate to what extent European countries have succeeded in enhancing both quality and equity in their early literacy education since 2001. Trends over time in educational quality and equity were analyzed using data from PIRLS and TIMSS. The results suggest that the equity dimension is currently not properly addressed in most European countries.
Dr Heike Wendt is Acting Professor for School Pedagogy and Didactics at the University of Oldenburg in Germany. She has a PhD in Comparative Education from TU Dortmund University where she worked for many years at the Institute for School Development Research. Among other
responsibilities, she has served as the National Research Coordinator for Germany’s participation in PIRLS 2011 and 2016 and TIMSS 2011 and 2015.