Strategies on early school leaving should be based on an analysis at national, regional and local level of the conditions leading to the phenomenon, as average rates often mask large differences between different regions or countries.
Early school leavers are a heterogeneous group and individual motivations to leave education prematurely differ widely. Family background and wider socio-economic conditions such as pull from the labour market are important factors. Their impact is conditioned by the structure of the education and training system, by available learning opportunities, and by the learning environment. The coordination of policies addressing the well-being of children and young people, social security, youth employment and future career perspectives has an important role to play in reducing early school leaving.
Cumulative drop-out rate to the last grade of primary education, both sexes (%)
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | |
| Greece | 9,31531 | 8,31331 | 4,03382 | |
| Italy | 1,05956 | 0,58234 | 0,82428 | 0,76304 |
| Hungary | 2,03073 | 1,73983 | 2,08523 | 1,57084 |
Cumulative drop-out rate to the last grade of lower secondary general education, both sexes (%)
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | |
| Greece | 7,59944 | 9,39868 | 0,83061 | 3,33133 |
| Italy | 1,69077 | 1,2972 | 1,34855 | 1,29297 |
| Hungary | 4,57657 | 4,38298 | 3,75557 |
Source UNESCO Institute for Statistics