Euro-MPs hit out at lack of progress on lifelong learning

Citation

(2003), "Euro-MPs hit out at lack of progress on lifelong learning", Education + Training, Vol. 45 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2003.00445aab.011

Euro-MPs hit out at lack of progress on lifelong learning

Euro-MPs hit out at lack of progress on lifelong learning

The European Parliament has backed a report by Belgian Socialist, Kathleen Van Brempt, which criticises the lack of progress on implementing clearly defined strategies, backed by adequate funding, to promote lifelong learning in Europe. The report calls on the European Commission and EU member states to put in place a European framework for basic competencies that all school leavers will be expected to possess, and urges renewed efforts to achieve easy-to-understand common guidelines on the mutual recognition of education and training qualifications, including periods of informal training.

The report also calls on EU member states to be more active in exchanging best practice on lifelong learning, and helping the Commission to put together an inventory of national practices in this field. The report suggests that there should be specific objectives attached to public funding for education and vocational training, and tax breaks or other incentives to encourage more people to undertake lifelong learning. Finally, the report urges national education and lifelong-training pacts, which clearly spell out the lifelong-learning responsibilities of national and local authorities, companies and learners.