Malta’s early school leaving (ESL) rate has been revised downwards using new criteria developed by the National Statistics Office with the blessing of Eurostat.

The percentage of ESLs in 2010 has changed from 36.9 per cent to 24.8 per cent using the new formula.

For 2011 the rate has been changed from 33.4 per cent to 23.6 per cent.

Last year, Malta was given the unwanted distinction of having the highest ESL rate in the European Union by Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office.

The NSO began considering new criteria when it became aware that those classed as ESLs in Malta would not be classed as ESLs elsewhere.

Previously, Malta had been classifying as ESLs people aged between 18 and 24 who were no longer in education or training but who had completed secondary education, irrespective of the qualifications they had attained.

Other countries with similar education systems were also taking into account O levels or equivalent qualifications when they classified their students.

In December, Eurostat agreed that Malta could classify those with at least five O levels at a national level in the highest category of educational achievement.

This reclassified ESLs as those 18- to 24-year-olds who were not in higher education or training and who had not achieved at least five O levels or equivalent.

The revised statistics will be available on Eurostat’s website next month.