highest level of formal educational qualification achieved achieved primary education A highest level of formal educational qualification achieved after participating in an education process intended to result in the acquisition of fundamental skills in reading, writing and mathematics. A highest level of formal educational qualification achieved that is primary education (ISCED 1) which usually begins at age 5, 6, or 7 and generally lasts for 4 (e.g. Germany) to 6 years (the mode of the OECD countries being six years). Programmes at the primary level generally require no previous formal education, although it is becoming increasingly common for children to have attended a pre-primary programme before entering primary education Published