Brussels, 11/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - Educational leaders must have a vision for the future and be able to inspire those around them to implement it. Member states have the responsibility of helping them in this process, raising the image of the profession of teachers, educators and the heads of educational establishments, stated participants in the Leadership in Education conference held in Vilnius on 9-10 September under the Lithuanian Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers. European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth Androulla Vassiliou took part in the event and stated: “Our education and training systems need to change to become more relevant (…). Member states need to put in place the necessary conditions for inspiring and innovative leadership to take root and flourish”. In the view of Lithuania's Minister for Education Dainius Pavalkis, “schools also need a strong leader if we are to achieve the best results that ensure both personal and public welfare in the future (…). The generation who are attending schools today differs from the one who came yesterday. Therefore we must apply different methods and use different means of education, and we must be open to changes.” At the next Education Council in November, the Lithuanian Presidency will submit the leadership in education conference conclusions to the EU education ministers for adoption.
Over the course of the conference, education representatives and member state representatives discussed the role of teachers and educational heads to ensure the quality, productivity and effectiveness of education systems in a fast-changing world. They noted that with the emergence of new technology, young people have access to information which previously was only available to teachers. Teachers' roles must therefore change - they must become consultants more, who help young people increase their education and find trustworthy sources of knowledge more quickly and solutions to the problems posed. In Vassiliou's opinion, the Erasmus + programme, which will be implemented next year, should provide “a myriad of opportunities for educational leaders to get involved, with their colleagues abroad, in partnerships, research and international exchanges that will help develop innovative approaches to education, including educational leadership”. Vassiliou encourages member states to value their teachers and heads of school more, in particular by easing the overly heavy bureaucracy on them, by giving them continuous training, and by breaking down gender inequality - attracting men to elementary teaching, and more women to higher education and posts of responsibility in education. (IL/transl.fl)