Speech by President von der Leyen at the 3rd European Education Summit

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Commissioners,

You all will remember the start of the COVID-19 crisis. Every day at 8pm we stepped on our balconies or before our front doors. We clapped our hands to thank our doctors and nurses. We praised them for working overtime to help those who needed them most. They did an admirable job in hospitals around Europe.

But I have the feeling that we also should give a round of applause to another professional group: To our teachers. They embrace the challenge of home schooling in highly difficult circumstances. They keep classrooms and lecture halls open digitally. They are the ones who give pupils - and parents - across the continent the chance to continue with their normal life in times of the pandemic. At least to a certain extent.

I am delighted to speak to you at the opening of the 3rd European Education Summit.

Education is at the heart of European Societies. It is essential for the personal fulfilment of each and every European. Education determines whether we get a decent and rewarding job. Education forms mind and heart. Education teaches us green and digital skills we need in the future economy. And education empowers, to engage. It is the foundation of democratic debates and actions.

Even if education policies are national and regional, action at the EU level is essential.

Corona was and is a stress test for our schools and universities. It forces us to use digital technologies to provide education and training. Like many teachers, students and parents, we all faced a steep learning curve. And we all learned a lot.

At the same time, this pandemic also exposed the shortcomings that need to be tackled. We have to successfully integrate digital technologies in our education systems. Digital technologies enable many pupils to continue learning. But for others it proved to be a major barrier when access, equipment, connectivity or skills are lacking. These are the issues, we should talk about today. This is why this years' summit is dedicated to the "Digital Education Transformation."

I can assure you: The Commission does everything possible, to support pupils and teachers in these challenging times. We recently presented

our Digital Education Action Plan for the years 2021 to 2027. With this Plan we want to boost the digital competence of pupils and teachers. But also the development of the necessary infrastructure. In our Communication on Achieving the European Education Area we set ourselves concrete milestones for the year 2030: By then, the share of low-achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics and science should be less than 15%. By then, the share of low-achieving eighth-graders in computer and information literacy should be less than 15%. By then, at least 90% of people between 20 and 24 should have a higher secondary education. These are ambitious goals, but they are doable!

And then, of course, there is NextGenerationEU. Our €750 billion recovery programme. With NextGenerationEU we want to counter the economic fallout of coronavirus and built a better future. A greener future, a more digital one, a more resilient European Union. With NextGenerationEU we also want to kickstart a green renovation wave for all kind of buildings across the continent. Make sure, that your school, that your university will be able to benefit from this. NextGenerationEU is also a great chance to bring broadband internet to every school and every university.

Once again, I urge you to make sure that your country, your region makes the most out of this opportunity. We have to listen to our pupils and students. They show us the way. In the fight against climate change, each Friday they skipped school, and made their voices heard. They took to the street. With their demonstrations they brought to the heart of our cities what was dear to their hearts.

Today, Vice-President Margaritis Schinas and Education Commissioner Mariya Gabriel will launch our new "Education for Climate Coalition". With this initiative we want to bring some of the energy from the streets to all our class rooms. We want to mobilise the entire education community to support the goals of climate neutrality and sustainable development. We will set up a special webpage, a platform to compare successful projects on European level. Thus Eco-Schools and environmental centres at universities can connect to each other. They can exchange ideas and stimulate innovation.

I said it already: it is admirable, how pupils, teachers and schools as a whole cooperate in the times of corona. This is resilience at its best. We should built on this momentum to develop higher quality, more accessible and more inclusive digital teaching and learning.

But let me also be clear: While e-learning has helped us to overcome constraints, it also showed us, what we lose, when there is no personal contact. We miss the daily personal interaction between teachers and pupils. Classmates miss the daily exchange. We miss the chance to discuss a pupil´s special needs. We miss the daily chitchat in the cafeteria, that so much belongs to our lives.

Digital technologies will be an essential tool for teaching in the future. But they are not the only future. Let's not fool ourselves: Teachers remain essential. Personal interactions in the classroom remain essential. And it will remain essential that people of different backgrounds, learn and work together.

There is a lot to talk about and to discuss. There is a lot we Europeans can learn from each other. I am sure you will have a very interesting Education Summit! I wish you many fruitful exchanges.

Thank you!