Representatives of EU's cities and regions have
adopted an
opinion
drafted by Mayor of
Kuldīga
Inga
Bērziņa
(LV/Renew Europe) on the Pathways to School Success
initiative, with which the European Commission aims
to improve education outcomes for all young
Europeans. Ms
Bērziņa
presented her opinion at the European Committee of
the Regions' plenary session in Brussels on 12
October. It highlights the role of regions and
cities in modernising educational infrastructure,
promoting equal opportunities and developing models
of cooperation and solutions adapted to the local
context.
With the
Pathways to School Success
initiative, the European Commission is encouraging a
"whole school approach" which engages actively all
members of the school community and external
stakeholders. Support from local and regional
authorities is crucial to achieve key targets, such as
reducing the share of low-achievers in basic skills and
countering early leaving from education and training.
Currently only 84.3% of young Europeans complete upper
secondary education and one in five 15-year-olds cannot
perform basic tasks in reading, maths or science.
"High-quality education and training systems that are
inclusive and equally accessible to all, regardless of
the learners' personal characteristics, family,
cultural and socioeconomic situation, create not only
paths to school success, but also our common path to
social cohesion and a more sustainable economy in the
European Union. Local and regional authorities have
responsibilities at school level and contribute to the
development of models of cooperation in which, together
with stakeholders from the public, private and academic
sectors, a strong emphasis is placed on citizens and
their needs", rapporteur Inga Bērziņa highlights.
In view of the impact on national and local budgets of
Russia's war in Ukraine, the energy crisis and rapid
inflation, the
opinion stresses the importance of long-term support from the
EU Structural Funds for municipal projects to modernise
the learning environment. It also calls for tailored
and smart language learning programmes for Ukrainian
refugees and other pupils who do not speak the language
of the EU Member State concerned.
Furthermore, the Covid-19 pandemic has had negative
effects on pupils' well-being and learning motivation.
The rapporteur points out that collecting and analysing
data at all levels of government can help deduce common
trends behind early school leaving, and accordingly
prepare solutions at local level and adapt national
education policies.
"For example, in Latvia an interactive tool has been
developed at national level to collect information on
pupils from the moment the teacher identifies a risk of
their dropping out. It offers a wide range of
statistics at local and regional authority level on the
causes and trends of school dropouts", the Mayor of
Kuldīga explains.
In addition to her role as rapporteur of this important
opinion, Ms Bērziņa was last week elected first
vice-chair of the
SEDEC Commission, which leads the European Committee of the Regions'
work in the field of social, employment, education,
culture and research policies.
More information:
Pathways to School Success, a flagship initiative of
the
European Education Area, aims to boost the inclusive dimension of education by
supporting EU Member States in reducing low achievement
in basic skills and increasing secondary education
attainment. Its key objective is to promote better
educational outcomes for all young Europeans,
irrespective of their personal characteristics, family,
socio-economic and cultural background.
Early leavers from education and training still
represent 9.9% of young people in the EU and only 84.3%
of young people have completed upper secondary
education. One in five 15-year-old Europeans cannot
perform basic tasks in reading, maths or science. The
socio-economic background of a learner and their family
continues to be the strongest determinant of
educational outcomes.
Contact:
Lauri Ouvinen
Tel. +32 473536887
lauri.ouvinen@cor.europa.eu