Brussels, 20/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 20 May, the Council adopted conclusions on quality teacher training and education. These conclusions address practical issues, such as how to attract the best candidates and ensure that candidate-training programmes are relevant, with the use of new technologies. The conclusions underline the importance of identifying the professional skills the teacher trainers themselves need, as well as the knowledge, skills and attitudes that they should help future teachers acquire. Member states are also invited to explore European Union funding opportunities, such as the Erasmus+ programme and possibly the European Social Fund.
The role of teachers is rapidly changing, given constant technological progress, increasing cultural and social diversity and the need to ensure more tailor-made teaching. Teacher training and education throughout their careers is therefore a fundamental part of high-quality teaching, underlines the Council. The Council regrets that, although many member states try to provide support to teachers and the heads of educational institutions, they do not always have the specific policies and provisions in place for teacher training. The issue of teacher training has already been tackled by the previous Presidencies with these latest conclusions completing overall message. The Irish Presidency organised a policy debate on the quality of teacher training and the Lithuanian Presidency proposed adopting conclusions on the efficient exercise of management duties in teaching. (IL)