The EU ministers for education and youth give priority to blended, digital and further education and civic spaces ahead of the European Year of Youth.
On 29-30 November 2021, the European Council on Education, Youth, Culture and Sports (EYCS) met in Brussels chaired by Simona Kustec, Slovenian Minister for Education, Science and Sport. This was the last meeting of the education, youth and culture ministers under the current Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Education policy
The Council adopted a recommendation on blended learning inviting Member States to develop long-term approaches for integrating blended learning in their education systems. The recommendation states that blended learning should not replace in-person learning. To support this development and to remediate the learning loss due to the pandemic, Member States should further foster the development of digital skills and competences to the extent that blended learning should be a part of all teacher education and further education programmes. Further investments in high-speed internet infrastructure are suggested as necessary. This is in line with the Digital Education Action Plan of the EU.
The Council further approved a resolution on a new European Agenda for Adult Learning 2021-2030. As only 9.2% of adults in the EU participated in adult education in 2020, the Agenda should boost and improve the provision, the promotion and the take-up of formal, non-formal and informal further education and training. Member states will exchange best practises, build up knowledge and monitor progress.
With regards to digital education and skills, the Council held a public debate as part of the high-level structured dialogue on digital education and linked this to current developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies. In the debate, the European Commission, represented by Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel and Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit called for a more consistent and integrated approach in digital education as an urgent necessity to move ahead with the digital transition. This ambition in digital education is linked to the European Skills Agenda and part of the Digital Decade.
Subsequently, the ministers of education of the 27 member states presented the state of play of digital education in their countries. They highlighted how digital education and skills are at the forefront of their education policy and have become a transversal priority wholly integrated in all curricula from primary school onwards. The Council stresses that the fundamental values of education need to be protected as new technologies shake up the education systems. In this regard, ministers mentioned the potential of AI to increase the quality of learning. They, however, warn of the risks and emphasise that ethical guidelines and a human-centred approach to AI are necessary; the same applies for virtual reality and other emerging technologies. Some countries have adopted national AI strategies to address this challenge (e.g. Czech Republic, Ireland, and the Netherlands), while ministers call on the EU to provide a framework for AI. The national recovery and resilience plans under Next Generation EU contain often investments in digital education and skills. Erasmus+ also plays an important role, e.g. with its eTwinning platform.
Youth policy
The education and youth ministers welcomed the decision to designate 2022 as the European Year of Youth. Commissioner Gabriel wishes that the year should be used to innovate and experiment and confirms that the funding for activities will come from the funds (Erasmus+ etc.). The Council further approved a resolution on the outcomes of the 8th cycle of EU Youth Dialogue. Regarding the EU Youth Strategy (2019-2027) the Council approved conclusions on its implementation and a resolution on the EU Youth Strategy Work Plan 2022-2024. The work plan forsees Council actions on engagement of young people for sustainable development, volunteering mobility and on youth participation under the French Council presidency.
A particular focus was put on civic spaces for young people as the pandemic has rendered youth participation much more difficult because it hindered access to these spaces. The Council approved conclusions inviting Member States to do more to create and preserve spaces for young people to participate in society in a meaningful way. The adoption was followed by a debate on the status and future of civic spaces. The ministers noted that the civic spaces for young people are changing and transforming rapidly. In this context, member states have an important role to play to enable young people to access civic spaces. Educational institutions and youth organisations have a key role to play in supporting skills such as critical thinking and media literacy. The minister from Luxembourg specifically called for more funding for youth organisations to enable them to assume this important role appropriately.
Lastly, the EC announced a draft recommendation on digital education skills in all school curricula to be submitted to the Council in 2022.
The next EYCS Council will take place 4-5 April 2022. The French Minister for Education, Youth and Sport, Jean-Michel Blanquer, presented his priorities for the upcoming French Council Presidency (January to June 2022). He announced that increased investments in education would be a priority in light of the pandemic; this will be linked to the twin transition and include investments in greener and more digital school infrastructure but also increasing salaries for teachers. Further, he stated that mobility for teachers should be advanced, as proposed in a report on European school education by MEP Ilana Cicurel (Renew Europe/France), as well as the European element in teacher training strengthened. Further, the presidency will focus on education for sustainable development and on digital education (digital competences and ethical considerations).