The European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) held a public hearing on Tuesday 13 February, focusing on the European Schools System (ESS). The event was attended by Andreas Beckmann, Secretary-General of the European Schools, and Christian Roques, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Human Resources and Security (DG HR), as well as representatives of parents, teachers and students.
The aim of the meeting was to discuss the issues facing these establishments, which were set up jointly by the governments of the EU Member States to provide multilingual and multicultural education. The aim was to explore reform proposals to make the system more suitable for the future. These discussions followed the adoption, in September 2023 (see EUROPE 13248/11), of the own-initiative report on the state of play, challenges and prospects of the European Schools System.
Mr Beckmann expressed his gratitude to Parliament for this text, which highlighted various recommendations relating to governance, management, resources and educational quality. Describing it as detailed and stimulating, he said it was “rich” and “encouraging” for the network.
He also stated that an action plan, scheduled for approval in April 2024, is currently being drawn up. The plan aims to implement twenty measures in three main areas. One of the highlights of this initiative is the updating of the vision and mission of the European Schools, noting the need to adapt to the ever-changing European educational landscape.
Mr Beckmann also highlighted the excellent performance of pupils in PISA tests, particularly those without dedicated language sections, demonstrating the quality of teaching. This contrasts with the evaluation of mainstream schools in the EU, as recently demonstrated by the Commission (see EUROPE 13349/30).
With regard to governance and management, the proposal to revise the governance structure within the limits of the current agreement was discussed in the meeting. The importance of maintaining greater transparency and accountability was underlined, with the idea of an annual report to the European Parliament.
Overcrowding in Type 1 schools (mainly intended for the children of European officials), the recognition of certificates awarded by European schools and teaching autonomy were also discussed. The issue of resources was also at the heart of the discussions, in particular the diversity of funding sources, enrolment policy and tuition fees. The aim is to make schools more accessible and inclusive, thereby meeting the needs of a diverse student population.
Mr Roques, from the European Commission, reinforced these points by expressing the Commission’s full support for the report’s recommendations. He underlined the Commission’s commitment to a unified and diversified education system, in line with EU values, and which plays an essential role in the development of future citizens. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)