Brussels, 26/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - After the morning session of the Education Council on Thursday 26 November, European ministers adopted conclusions on the professional development of teachers and school heads and on the education of migrant children, as well as key messages intended to fuel discussion on the post-2010 Lisbon Strategy in December's Council (see related article). The commissioner for education, training, culture and youth, Maroš Šefèoviè, called on member states not to proceed to budgetary cuts for education in these times of economic crisis, as, he said, it would jeopardise the chance of success in the future. “The quality of teaching is the cornerstone of a good educational system but it is up to member states to take the decisions needed”, added Jan Björklund, Sweden's Minister for Education, who added that, if results were slow in coming, action should be taken at once.
“We must work together to improve the quality of teacher training (…). We can learn a lot from each other”, Jan Björklund said in respect of the first point on the agenda. Pleased to see most of the European Commission's suggestions approved by member states after the open debate in 2007 on the role of schools in the 21st century, Commissioner Šefèoviè said: “We must invest in training young teachers so that the teaching profession becomes younger”. Rarely tackled to date, the role of school heads was highlighted by the Swedish Presidency and, as Björklund pointed out, “teacher training depends on them”. “We must ensure directors do not have to shoulder an excessive administrative burden” so that they can devote more time to the teachers, the European commissioner added. In conclusions adopted on teacher training and school heads, the Council underlines the need to accompany young teachers when they start out but also to continue providing support to teachers by giving them adequate training throughout their career, which will allow them to adjust to new economic, social and migratory realities. Member states must take more measures to ensure that the profession is more attractive to budding teachers who should be truly motivated, as today teaching has lost a great deal of appeal. Mobility is also an essential factor in the continuing training of teachers. Teachers must be trained for this reality by giving them suitable training and allowing them to take part in exchange schemes. The role of the heads of establishment in this context is obvious and their task should be made easier by relieving them of superfluous administrative tasks to allow them to accompany teachers, the Council underlines.
Ministers also adopted conclusions on the schooling of migrant children. This topical issue was added to the agenda by the Swedish EU Presidency given the rise in migratory movements within the European Union over recent years. It is important to integrate migrant children into the educational systems as soon as possible, without segregation from native children (to avoid ghetto schools) and without a programme that is different from national programmes being applied to these children, the conclusions state. Naturally, specific accompanying measures are desirable to allow migrant children to follow teaching in the language of the host country as far as possible, while allowing them to blossom in their own language and culture via accompanying programmes, in order to respect their cultural identity and ensure their integration. Mastering the official language of the host country is an indispensable condition for success at school and is essential to ensure social and professional integration, the Council points out. Parental cooperation in this process is essential and schools must ensure regular contact with families so that migrant children have the support required for their development. Teachers must be trained to accept this new educational reality in order to have the necessary instruments to face up to the difficulties that can arise in the children's integration process. Additional means should therefore be granted to schools located in the areas most heavily populated by migrants and more personalised teaching should be envisaged in these areas. Such is the approach recommended by all member states after the debates. “Education is very important to ensure that migrant children become citizens who are well integrated into a young, inclusive society in respect of diversity (…) This is a major challenge for the future”, Jan Björklund commented, pleased at the consensus found with his partners in a particularly sensitive political context on immigration issues where member states' opinions differ, he said. There is still a gap between the achievements of children from migrant families and those from national families, the commissioner added, saying: “We must adjust by setting the necessary policies in place”. (I.L./transl.jl)