Brussels, 16/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - Although responsibility for education and training lie with national governments, member states all are pursuing the same aims in reforming their systems to make it better adapted to the new challenges being faced (new skills - see article above - ageing population and foreign competition). Some member states are already well along the road, but others are lagging somewhat, for example, in mastery of reading skills, early school leaving and lifelong learning. To help coordinate action, the European Commission, on Tuesday 16 December, published a communication setting out its long-term strategic vision and also immediate priorities which it suggests member states should address by 2009-2010. “It is clear that Europe has to do better. The Commission's plans will give new impetus to our cooperation in education and training, and ensure that we continue to make our essential contribution to both swift economic recovery and our strategic objective of growth and jobs in Europe,” said Education and Training Commissioner Jan Figel. The Commission suggests looking again at existing benchmarks (see its last evaluation report in EUROPE 9701) and considering new benchmarks in more key areas, such as tertiary education attainment, employability and student mobility. Some of the objectives pursued by member states, such as assistance to mobility, cannot be achieved through action in isolation. Others are more easily realisable if countries draw the lessons from others' experiences and draw up common instruments, the Commission says. This new framework will make it easier to share best practice among member states and strengthen mutual learning, the Commission hopes, and will also help the implementation of their future reforms. (I.L./transl.rt)