Quality education and language competences for 21st century society: traditions, challenges and visions

This somewhat belated blog entry is the report of the 20-21 March 2014 Council of Europe conference held at the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) in Graz. EPA was represented by Vice Secretary Arja Krauchenberg and our Ambassador, Johannes Theiner. The event was organised by Austria, holding the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers.

Council of Europe Conference on the Picture and Professional Ethos of Teachers

EPA was invited to represent the view of parents as stakeholders at this event held on 24-25 April 2014 on a very important topic: what the demands of the 21st century are for teachers to stand up for the challenges of this very complex world to educate the new generations towards a democratic life in a society that is diverse in many ways. EPA was represented by or Vice President, Oren Gostiaux who participated in a round table discussion entitled "What is the perfect teacher for you?"

April Newsletter of the European Policy Network on School Leadership (EPNoSL)

In this newsletter:

• Latest EPNoSL reports on School Leadership for equity and learning
• EPNoSL empirical studies
• Ministries of Education of Slovenia, Matla, and Portugal join EPNoSL
• Forthcoming EPNoSL PLA @ Nice, France
• EFEE, ETUCE and VO-raad project on Professional autonomy, accountability and efficient leadership

Read the April 2014 Newsletter

Fapel initiative on LLL

FAPEL and EBC*L sign a cooperation agreement to promote the achievement of a European certificate of training on business and entrepreneurship skills to improve the education of their young people, and also of parents .

FAPEL is aware of the need for training and accreditation at European level, and they made and agreement with the entity representing this certification in Spain ( EBC * L, Certificate European Business Licence, http://www.ebcl.es ) to promote it to parents and their schools, which they consider important in itself and also as a distinguishing feature in educational provision.

Challenges for Parents in the Digital Age - conference report

The last EPA conference and GA so far was held in Lisbon on 4th and 5th April 2014. The speakers and participants were dealing with a hot topic, the various aspects of the digital age in connection with families, parents and schools. The few paragraphs below will try to give a very short insight to this very interesting and lively conference. You will also find the presentations of all the speakers with their contact details if you want to work on with these topics.

Celebration in Spain

One of our Spanish members, FEPACE is celebrating half a century of good home-school cooperation. The EPA family is wishing a happy anniversary!

Talking about Fomento is talking about Parents. And talking about Parents is talking about Fomento.

It was 1963 when a group of parents from all over Spain joined in different cities for the purpose of creating a type of institution where school and family were linked in a solid union in order to achieve an academic and human excellence. Where the professors help families raise their children in the same direction as they were being taught in their houses. 

#FamiliesVOTE2014

Press release by the European Parents’ Association (EPA)

for the Launch of the COFACE publication

’Helping you to make your choice 2014 European Parliament Election’

Martin Schultz, the President of the European Parliament – answering our question at a recent event - highlighted the fact that a parent’s strongest drive is to act for her/his child. Herman Van Rompuy, the President of the European Council is urging a ‘confidence pact’ in his introduction to the publication containing the policy items of the four biggest political groups of the present European Parliament. The Board of EPA wishes to take this opportunity to emphasise that this is an instance for all parents in the EU to act for their children, namely learn about the opinion of different political groups and go to vote at the European Parliament Elections this May on the party that represents the interest of you, your family and especially your children best. The only way to be part of this confidence pact is to vote and to do it responsibly. EPA - as usual - has been undertaking the role to link parents to the different political groups and represent the diverse interests of European parents.