The Role Of Parents In The Education Systems Of The European Union

To reflect on factors influencing the quality of schooling, this study examined parents' social participation in education in various countries of the European Union. The premise was that, in practice, parent participation in education systems makes possible both consistency of education and the cultural enrichment that children need. The study first provides a comparative overview that contributes to understanding of both the diversity of the national situations and the convergences that are found in Europe on this subject. It also provides extensive details on the initiatives and measures taken to involve parents in compulsory education matters both at the national level and at the level of the individual school; the patterns of representation and the powers that are given to parents in the various participatory bodies are presented country by country, encompassing 18 countries in all. (Contains extensive tables, maps, and charts.) (BT)