Brussels, 13/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - For the majority of European citizens, lifelong learning is still far from being a reality, according to a report adopted on 10 July in the European Parliament's education and culture committee. The report by Mary Honeyball (UK, S&D) - which was adopted by 29 votes in favour, one against and no abstentions - underlines the unacceptably high number of students who leave school without qualifications which consequently leads to a high level of youth unemployment. The report also criticises the lack of attention given to early years development, tertiary education and the educational needs of older citizens.
The economic crisis has led to governments making budget cuts in education systems yet it is an increase in funding which is needed to enable Europe to reach the level of the United States, the report underlines. For the MEPs, the member states should invest at least 2% of their GDP in education, in order to attain the objectives fixed by the EUROPE 2020 strategy with regard to education. They also say that all age groups must be included in lifelong learning, and they ask the European Commission and Council of Ministers to adapt their systems to the current demographic changes (ageing of the population) and to open them up further to more disadvantaged people who do not have the economic means for this. The report recommends paying more attention to the development of linguistic skills so as to favour mobility. (IL/transl.fl)