The
Minister of Education and Culture, Mr Costas Kadis, participated
yesterday, in Brussels, in a meeting of the Council of Ministers of
Education, Youth, Culture and Sport of the EU, which dealt with
education and youth matters.
The EU Ministers assessed the achievements
of European cooperation in the field of education and training ("ET
2020"), and discussed its future development in preparation for the
mid-term stocktaking and the 2015 Joint Report. Mr Kadis agreed with
most of his European counterparts on maintaining the objectives that had
been originally formulated in the framework of the ET 2020 and
concerned the following:
• Implementation of lifelong learning and mobility,
• Improvement of the quality and effectiveness of education and training,
• Promotion of equity, social cohesion and active citizenship, and
• Increase in creativity and innovation, as well as entrepreneurship in all levels of education and training.
Mr Kadis also made reference to Cyprus’
efforts to modernize a series of policies in the country’s education
system. In this framework he mentioned the setting up of the Ministry’s
strategic plan for the system of technical and vocational education and
training for the period 2015-2020.
Concluding, he underlined the significance
of the utilization by EU member states of good practices as well as
academic research findings in order to promote and manage reform in each
member state.
As regards youth matters, the Council
adopted conclusions on reinforcing youth work, highlighting its
contribution to personal development, social inclusion, cultural
diversity and active citizenship. EU Ministers also discussed how to
improve political participation by young people in the democratic life
of Europe.
In his intervention, the Minister of
Education noted that surveys have shown that young people need to be
involved in matters that concern them directly and would have a direct
impact on their lives, especially at the local level, rather than
participating in the general political life or elections in particular.
He also said that at national level, each member state could encourage
youth participation in the elections if it could prove in practice that
institutions operate democratically and with meritocracy. Young people
must be convinced that through their participation in the electoral
system they will be able to contribute themselves in the creation of a
better society, Mr Kadis stressed.
Concluding, the Minister of Education said
special emphasis should be given to increasing employment and reducing
unemployment among young people, which will contribute to their better
integration into society and reduce the number of marginalized youth and
young people who are prone to extremist and radical behaviour.
The EU Council’s deliberations are continuing today with culture and sport issues. |
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