On Wednesday 30 September, the European Commission presented an arsenal of measures to improve education in Europe, including digital education. Limited in its competences by the Lisbon Treaty, it proposes mostly non-legislative initiatives (recommendations). However, it has set itself new quantified objectives for the period up to 2030.
In total, it presented three documents totalling 80 pages: a Communication for a European Education Area by 2025, an Action Plan 2021-2027 for digital education and a Communication on research and innovation (see other news).
The section on education is in fact an update of existing documents. As a reminder, the team chaired by Jean-Claude Juncker had already laid the foundations for the European education area to be actioned by 2025 (see EUROPE 11904/30) and had previously presented an action plan for digital education in 2018 (see EUROPE 11941/11).
Towards a genuine European education area
The communication on the European Education Area is quite dense. However, towards the end, it introduces new numerical targets or repeats old ones that have not yet been met.
“There are figures that we can no longer accept”, commented Commissioner Mariya Gabriel at a press conference. This is particularly the case for basic skills: in 2009, Member States set themselves the target of bringing the percentage of 15-year-olds with insufficient mastery of basic skills (science, reading and mathematics) below 15%.
However, instead of improving, the situation with regard to science and reading deteriorated between 2009 and 2018. The Commission is now reaffirming this objective for 2030. It added that the proportion of Grade 8 students not trained in computer and information technology should be less than 15%.
With regard to the other objectives, the Commission is raising to 50% (from 40%, a level which has already been achieved) the percentage of 30-34 year olds with a higher education qualification. It also sets at 90% the share of 20-24 year olds with at least an upper secondary school diploma.
In addition to these objectives, the Commission emphasises six key areas: - quality; - gender inclusion and equality; - economic and digital transitions; - the teachers; - higher education; - and a stronger Europe in the world.
2021-2027 Digital Education Action Plan
The new Digital Education Action Plan replaces the one presented in 2018, which was due to expire. The main difference is that it also covers non-formal and informal education systems.
Made necessary by the Covid-19 pandemic and the containment measures, it is structured around 2 long-term strategic priorities, namely: to foster the development of a high-performance digital education ecosystem and to strengthen digital skills for digital transformation.
On the first strand, the Commission has notably announced an EU Council Recommendation for 2022 on factors conducive to successful digital education and an EU Council Recommendation on e-learning and distance learning for primary and secondary education by the end of 2021. It also suggests a European framework on the content of digital education.
On the second strand, the Commission proposes: - common guidelines for professionals and teachers to reinforce digital learning; - to update the European e-skills framework to include artificial intelligence and data related skills.
It also suggests developing a European Digital Skills Certificate (EDSC) and presenting an EU Council Recommendation on improving digital skills learning in education and training. See documents: https://bit.ly/33dN2GP and https://bit.ly/34bJP9R (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)