Europe "not doing well enough" in lifelong learning

Citation

(2003), "Europe "not doing well enough" in lifelong learning", Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol. 27 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/jeit.2003.00327aab.001

Europe "not doing well enough" in lifelong learning

Europe "not doing well enough" in lifelong learning

Europe is generally not performing adequately in the areas of skills and competence, according to the first European report on the quality of lifelong learning.

The report shows that not all of the 35 countries investigated are well positioned for successful lifelong learning involving the whole population. For example, with regard to attainment levels of 15-year-olds:

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  between 7 per cent and 35 per cent are inadequately prepared for engaging in lifelong learning because of their poor literacy skills;

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  between 3 per cent and 27 per cent could be expected to experience difficulties with subsequent learning activities requiring numerical skills; and

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  between 7 per cent and 32 per cent lack the skills and knowledge needed for productive lifelong learning in science.

The report – produced by a working group which included representatives from 35 countries, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) and the European Commission – shows that high numbers of very low-performing pupils pose a major challenge in many countries. This problem is compounded by relatively high levels, around 10 per cent, of early school leavers (people not completing secondary education) in many countries, but again with a very big spread between countries, from well under 10 per cent to above 40 per cent.

The report reveals not only inadequate initial preparation of young people, but also a relatively low level of participation in education and training among the active population. Participation rates vary considerably, between 2 per cent and 25 per cent.

In terms of investment in lifelong learning, the percentage of national wealth (gross domestic product) invested in education in 2001 ranged from just over 3.5 per cent, in Greece, to 8.33 per cent, in Sweden. Investment for the EU as a whole was 5.03 per cent of gross domestic product. Disparities are also evident in the amount of training given to teachers.

Viviane Reding, European commissioner for education and training, said, "If Europe is to achieve the goals set by the European councils in Lisbon and Barcelona to make our continent a competitive knowledge-based economy and a world quality reference by 2010, important, far-reaching reforms must now be introduced in most of our countries to make lifelong learning a reality. I hope that this first report will serve as a useful tool to accelerate these reforms".

Indicators used in the report are literacy, numeracy, new skills for the learning society, learning-to-learn skills, active citizenship, cultural and social skills, access to lifelong learning, participation in lifelong learning, investment in lifelong learning, information and communication technology in learning, strategies for lifelong learning, coherence of supply, guidance and counselling, accreditation and certification and quality assurance.