Speech of the Minister of Education Dr C. Kadis
at the Council of Europe Ministerial Conference
It is a great pleasure and honor for me to address this plenary. I
believe that this is the right time to discuss about the role and the mission of
education on meeting the challenges of contemporary societies. In Cyprus, we
have recently developed an updated education strategy. Our vision is to
contribute to the development of active citizens who, apart from possessing
knowledge and skills, they are characterized by ethos and are able to creatively
contribute to the development of democratic societies.
Among the reforms that we are introducing in our education system is
the updating of the curricula at all levels of education and the implementation
of innovative approaches to teaching. In this context, we consider the
“Framework of the Competences Required for Participation in Democratic Culture”
extremely relevant, because it provides us with a conceptual model readily
available to be used accordingly at national level. It is within our intentions
to utilize the Framework as a tool for enriching our new curricula and we will
secure that the 20 competences of the Framework are integrated.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The creation of a democratic culture in a society should not be a
task of merely national governmental institutions. Our work at national level
will be greatly enhanced from transnational cooperation and peer learning
activities as well as from sub-national cooperation with social partners and
civil society organisations. The political framework provided by the Council of
Europe facilitates and supports such efforts. In the case of Cyprus, the Council
of Europe has created the space for active non-governmental organizations such
as the Cypriot based inter-communal nongovernmental “Association for Historical
Dialogue & Research”.
The Council of Europe in co-operation with the Association, have
developed a range of activities over the last 12 years, such as teacher training
workshops and the creation of supplementary teaching material, which promote
critical thinking and active citizenship. In addition to that, the Association
has been the driving force behind the creation of the Home for Cooperation, a
multi-functional educational and cultural center located in the buffer zone of
the last remaining divided capital of Europe, Nicosia, offering a space for
people coming from all over our island and beyond, to engage in productive
dialogue and initiate cooperation projects. These initiatives are living
examples of how cooperation of people and communities from various religious,
ethnic and linguistic backgrounds can thrive, even in areas, which have suffered
from conflict.
Dear colleagues,
Cyprus will have the honor to chair the Committee of Ministers of the
Council of Europe from next November until May 2017. Believing in the need for
the implementation of the “Action Plan on fighting violent extremism and
radicalization leading to terrorism” we intend to follow up on the discussions
initiated here. Within this framework, we could discuss examples of how
different countries proceeded with the pilot implementation of the Framework of
the Competences Required for Participation in Democratic Culture and share
relevant experiences and good practices.
Moreover, during the Cyprus Chairmanship, our intention is to bring
together Government Representatives from both sides of the Mediterranean. I
believe that today the effort to countering extremism should be of special
concern for the countries lying at the shores of the Mediterranean. The rich
history of our region has endowed us with the benefit of experiencing glorious
civilizations since the ancient times. At the same time, we have had the sad
privilege to witness, at several occasions, people fleeing from conflict areas
or, even worst, perishing in the effort to move to safer places. Therefore, it
would be of outmost importance to discuss how strategic alliances can be
developed at national, regional and international level towards promoting
education as an inhibitor of violent extremism and radicalization and as an
agent of piece. Common problems require common actions.
