Europese Raad: Onderwijs essentieel voor EU 2020-strategie (en)

“Education plays a key role in the foundations of structural reforms and economic growth”, highlighted Rózsa Hoffman, Minister of State for Education of the Ministry of National Resources, at the press conference after the Council’s 14 February meeting, in Brussels.

EU Ministers of Education, discussed the role of education and training in the Europe 2020 Strategy, and their possible contribution to the success of the economic policy co-ordination cycle called, European Semester. Rózsa Hoffman, Minister of State for Education, who chaired the meeting of the Council said, “while recovering from the global economic crisis, we must lay the foundations for long-term growth. Specifically, we must continue to support measures related to education and training”. Member state representatives welcomed the Hungarian Presidency’s position, and stressed that education funds “must not be reduced”, even during the years of economic consolidation.

Ministers took the view that funds, should be more efficiently used in the field of education and training, while curricula and training plans, be developed together with business professionals, labour markets, and research institutions. Ministers discussed teacher and student mobility as a key issue.

“New skills and jobs”

“Member states should undertake more if they are to meet the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy”, stated Androulla Vassiliou i, who also participated at the meeting. The European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, said that education is affected, by two key initiatives within the Strategy. “Youth on the Move” aims to improve the employment prospects for young people. The other programme “Agenda for New Skills and Jobs” seeks to enhance the acquisition of new skills, and the adaptation to changing labour market demands.

According to statistics, less than a third of 25-34-year-olds in the EU have a university degree, as opposed to 40 percent in the USA and 50 percent in Japan. Given the increasing need for highly qualified people in the labour market, the Europe 2020 Strategy sets out to raise the proportion of 30-34 year old, university graduates to 40%. The Strategy seeks to decrease the number of drop-outs to under 10%.

Making vocational training and adult learning more attractive

The document (conclusions) adopted at the meeting of the Council of Education, emphasis on the role of high-quality and modern education, in achieving the EU’s long-term prosperity. The text deals with the situation of young people who cannot succeed in the labour market due to the economic crisis, and with the encouragement of lifelong learning. Member states are willing to make vocational training and adult learning more attractive. The document touches on the improvement of educational and training systems, and on their adjustment to labour market demands.