Brussels, 30/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - In plenary session on Tuesday 23 September, the European Parliament adopted the own initiative report by Maria Badia i Cutchet (PES, Spain) on improving the quality of teacher training. MEPs highlighted the need to provide teachers with quality training so that they in turn could offer quality teaching to their pupils. MEPs urge member states to attach greater importance to this so that the Lisbon objectives in education and training could be reached, and teachers should be offered regular training opportunities to update and improve their skills, with qualifications which was recognised in all member states. They were highly critical of the wide differences in salaries across the EU and proposed that good wages should be paid to reflect the important role played by teachers in society. Increased mobility, better cooperation and team work were the three objectives to be sought to improve creativity and innovation in teaching methodology, MEPs said. They also highlighted the advantages of exchanging best practice. (I.L./transl.rt)