Brussels, 30/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - The informal Education ministerial meeting of Gödöllõ (29 March) discussed active citizenship education, or how to prepare young people to take part in the economic, political and cultural life of the European Union. According to the Hungarian minister with responsibility for education, Rózsa Hoffmann, who chaired the discussions, certain practical skills and attitudes need to be developed alongside theoretical knowledge taught in schools. “We are seeking answers to the new challenges of the 21st century. We must teach our youths how to face problems, such as the global economic crisis; active citizenship provides a framework for all this”, Hoffmann said. In the view of EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Multilingualism Androulla Vassiliou, “the crisis made clear that we need citizens who can solve their own problems. Our education and training systems must be better adapted to the needs of society”.
During the meeting, the ministers discussed the main skills needed for active citizenship. They carried out an exchange of views on the best way that European cooperation can help to acquire the skills in question. Representatives of the member states stressed the importance of acquiring the skills needed to develop a “financial consciousness” with the dual objective of succeeding in life and becoming socially responsible. They examined existing practices in the teaching of these skills and the experiences and initiatives of the member states. Rózsa Hoffmann stressed that the Hungarian Presidency was making every effort to ensure that the member states give active citizenship education the attention it deserves among the common European objectives and that it is the subject of close cooperation between the member states, with the involvement of the NGOs active in the field. All of the member states want to see their education systems promoting learning for people who are at school today, so that they can make their contribution to society as responsible citizens, and the meeting provided a forum to discuss improvements to be made to the educational programmes in order to achieve this aim, the Hungarian minister added. She went on to suggest that “perhaps the global economic crisis could have been less severe, if the youths had adopted a more conscious attitude to decision-making”. Commissioner Vassiliou, for her part, laid emphasis on permanent teacher training and the importance of online learning, using modern information and communication technologies.
Additionally, in the framework of the European Year of Volunteering 2011, the ministers and their representatives held an exchange of views on community activities for students and stressed the importance of the role of this in reinforcing social responsibility. “Voluntary activities will provide a good opportunity for youths to learn the real meaning of service, and mutual respect; and also to prepare them for taking social responsibility throughout their lives”, Androulla Vassiliou observed. She stressed that all opportunities for teaching these qualities must be explored, in both formal and informal settings. Lastly, the member states discussed the phenomenon of violence in schools. They shared their experiences in the matter and discussed opportunities for action to prevent and handle violence, in the framework of active citizenship education. (I.L./transl.fl)