Abstract
Taking the discussions on education, equal opportunities, and social reproduction by education, the paper considers the educational minimum as a concept that focuses on the responsibility, accountability, and performance of the educational system. There are at least three different approaches to define this educational minimum: 1. according to school leaving certificates, 2. according to competences, and 3. according to the relation of education and the labour market. The article shows that the discussions on equal opportunities and social justice depend on the sources, categories, and methods of research. Next, it deals with the educational minimum by combining the three approaches named to demonstrate the variation in results if you compare Finland and Germany. Finally, some conclusions of these findings are drawn with respect to educational politics. (DIPF/Orig.).