In the meeting, as in other French regions, the level of education of the population rises from generation to generation, concludes an INSEE study which, on the island, focused on those born in Reunion and residing there in 2017.
Not having a qualifying diploma is a much rarer situation for the younger generations native to the island than for their elders.. So, 24% of young natives aged 25 to 34 do not have a diploma, compared to 31% of 35-44 year olds and 67% of 55-64 year olds.
At the same time, holding a higher education diploma is becoming more common in Reunion : from 8% of natives aged 55-64 to 25% for those aged 25-34. Over the past decade, it is the possession of a Bac + 5 level diploma which is increasing the most, in connection with an expansion of university offerings : 7% of 25-34 year olds compared to 4% of 35-44 year olds. In parallel, the share of holders of a baccalaureate as their highest diploma also continues to grow (24% for 25-34 year olds). The generalization of the reduction from four to three years of the course leading to the professional baccalaureate at the end of college, at the end of the 2000s, has indeed led more young people to follow this course.
Despite this progress, the absence of a diploma remains twice as common among young natives of the island aged 25 to 34 than among residents of France of this age (24% versus 12%)
The comparison is also unfavorable with the West Indies, whose natives are more qualified. Young Guadeloupean and Martinican natives aged 25 to 34 more often have higher education qualifications. They are also 1,5 times less frequently non-graduates than young Reunion Islanders.
