Volonteurope: Citizenship a top educational priority in Europe

With the new academic upon us, the European Commission and Council of Europe have released a joint draft report entitled The implementation of the Strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (ET2020): New priorities for European cooperation in education and training. The report highlights six key priorities:

  • Relevant and high-quality skills and competences for employability, innovation, active citizenship;
  • Inclusive education, equality, non-discrimination, civic competences;
  • Open and innovative education and training, including by fully embracing the digital era;
  • Strong support for educators;
  • Transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications; and
  • Sustainable investment, performance and efficiency of education and training systems

Volonteurope, like its colleagues at EUCIS-LLL and SOLIDAR, welcomes the inclusion of these priorities in the report and is particularly supportive of the focus on active citizenship and civic competencies. Citizenship education is a crucial component in supporting young people to become active citizens and encouraging youth engagement in democratic processes. Youth turnout at European elections has been on a sharp decline, sliding to 29% in 2009. At the same time in 2013, an estimated 32% of 18- to 24-year-olds voted in local elections, compared with 72% of those aged over 65.

Volonteurope hopes that these priorities will cascade down to individual Member States. In the UK, for example, there is a debate on the future of citizenship education for post-16 education, challenging the importance of life-long learning.

The fourth priority, that of providing strong support for educators, is also particularly relevant to the UK perspective. Volonteurope is involved in a transnational partnership called ENGAGE, which focuses on European citizenship education within primary schools and early secondary school. Research conducted in the context of the project has shown that many teachers do not feel well equipped to deliver citizenship education. This shows that there is a strong need to concentrate on support for educators at the initial teacher training stage and through ongoing professional development.

Volonteurope hopes that this report will highlight the importance of education for reaching Europe’s social, as well as its economic, goals.

Full article.