Education ministers urged to innovate

European Education Commissioner Vivien Redding yesterday insisted that every country needs to bring about change in their education systems, at all levels, in order to close the gap between rhetoric and reality in terms of the EU's Lisbon strategy.

She was speaking at a debate during the Education, Youth and Culture Council meeting in Brussels, attended by European ministers of education, including Minister Louis Galea.

The debate was about the contribution of education and training in the context of the targets set for the EU in the Lisbon Agenda.

The Lisbon Agenda covers a comprehensive set of ambitions to realise the most knowledge-based economy in the world, while strengthening social cohesion, creating more and better jobs, and guaranteeing sustainable growth.

The ministers discussed the report submitted by a high level group headed by former Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok, which is advising the Commission in its preparation for the mid-term review of the Lisbon strategy.

They agreed that in reality there was no option other than a full commitment to pursuing the Lisbon ambitions, and that each element of strategy is still needed.

They also emphasised that economic growth, social cohesion and sustainable growth are mutually interdependent.

The ministers felt that despite the many implicit references to the contribution that education and training can make to reaching the Lisbon goals, the text of the Kok report was not strong enough in elaborating the role that education and training play in economic growth in Europe.

According to a recent study, Malta needs to step up its efforts in the education field if the Lisbon goals are to be met. This includes the need to have a more knowledgeable and multi-skilled workforce. The percentage of workers holding a university degree is still one of the lowest in the EU.

The Kok report was presented by Will Hutton, a member of the high level group and chief executive of the Work Foundation in London.

He said that current levels of growth in the EU would not deliver the Lisbon target to secure a tax base able to support the public expenditures needed to sustain health, education and social services. He stressed that innovation must start within the education system itself and that new structures that truly work and deliver need to be put in place.

The ministers present also discussed the proposal for an integrated action programme in the field of lifelong learning, through an integration of EU's education programmes (Comenius, Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci and Grundtvig).

A similar discussion took place on Youth in Action, the EU's programme for youths for 2007-2013.

The ministers adopted a report on Education and Citizenship as well as the conclusions on the future priorities of enhanced European co-operation in vocational education and training.

Dr Galea was accompanied by Frans Borg, EU director at the Ministry of Education.