Catholic education in Europe: variations in its establishment, vitality and some challenges for the future

Abstract

In the long history of the Catholic school in Europe, it has taken various forms, linked to local cultures and to the history, particularly religious but also political, of each state. While it is possible to account for this diversity, it is also important to highlight common features and challenges, such as secularisation and globalisation, which question the identity of Catholic schools. It is by addressing these challenges that Catholic schools will maintain an original school model that inspires the public schools of the different educational systems present in Europe.