Parents’ contribution to the European public consultation on ‘challenges of work-life balance’

The European Commission launched a public consultation on a roadmap on ‘possible action to address the challenges of work-life balance faced by working parents and caregivers’. The roadmap openly declares that “the main reason behind the initiative is to address the low participation of women in the labour market by modernising and adapting the current EU legal and policy framework to today's labour market”. On behalf of European parents, EPA as a registered lobby organisation contributed to the public consultation emphasising that issues of reconciliation parents are facing are much broader than measures pushing women to participate at the labour market. First of all, it is important for us to demand the use of another phrase ‘work-life balance’ as it suggests that work is not part of life while it is.

From Political Will to Implementation - New EUCIS-LLL Position Paper on Europe 2020 Strategy

The Europe 2020 Strategy is on the verge of its mid-term review. Inequalities in European education and training systems have increased simultaneously with the crisis, with vulnerable groups being particularly disadvantaged. The level of low-skilled adults, increased numbers of people at the risk of social exclusion and rising unemployment levels in most Member States show that much more needs to be done in order to reach the 2020 targets. This will require a renewed political commitment to foster lifelong learning at European level with a stronger focus on the social dimension of education, training and youth policies and funds.

European citizens should be rightly placed at the centre of the strategy and of all political decisions made at EU level. A common vision for the European Union cannot be reduced to purely economic considerations - says the Position Paper just published, and EPA (not only as a member of EUCIS-LLL) cannot agree more. EUCIS-LLL presents 10 key points on the EU2020 Strategy.

Implementation of competence-based education in a school at all levels:What is the role of the school leader and stakeholders?

Nelly Guet, a former school head, advisor in the field of education and long-time EPA partner shares her presentation with our readers on this topic. (Original presentation was done at the ATEE Hungary conference in Veszprém, 27 June 2014)

Why do we need competence-based education?

Europeans should be more interested in the future of Europe if they want benefits for the youth in their own countries. Those experiencing a high rate of youth unemployment must urgently adopt different measures, otherwise violence, youth unemployment, lack of interest in school, anxiety about the future and lack of confidence will increase among youngsters.

Knowledge is not enough if we want to engage ourselves for more democracy and more equity at school and if we want to prepare our youth for lifelong learning. 

Commission launched 'Opening up Education' to boost innovation and digital skills in schools and universities

More than 60% of nine year olds in the EU are in schools which are still not digitally equipped. The European Commission unveiled 'Opening up Education', an action plan on 25 September 2013 to tackle this and other digital problems which are hampering schools and universities from delivering high quality education and the digital skills which 90% of jobs will require by 2020. To help kick-off the initiative, the Commission launched a new website, Open Education Europa, which will allow students, practitioners and educational institutions to share free-to-use open educational resources.

Rethinking Education strategy of the EU

There is an ongoing debate on the document of the European Commission Rethinking education: investing in skills for better socio-economic outcomes. Parents should have a say both on the European level and also by triggering and participating at the national debates initiated by the EC.

The starting point is: "European education and training systems continue to fall short in providing the right skills for employability, and are not working adequately  with business or employers to bring the learning experience closer to the reality of the working environment. These skills mismatches are a growing concern for European industry's competitiveness."

Council conclusions on education and training in Europe 2020 – the contribution of education and training to economic recovery, growth and jobs

Press release of the 3201st EDUCATION, YOUTH, CULTURE and SPORT Council meeting (Brussels, 26 and 27 November 2012)

The Council adopted the following conclusions: