Although education is still, first and foremost, a national matter in Europe, it is increasingly becoming a European topic as well. The European institutions have a supportive competence in the field of education. The European Union, the Council of Europe as well as the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, all provide platforms for reflecting on education in Europe. Education is recognised as one of the most important means for promoting shared values, intercultural dialogue and an active European citizenship. It concerns all areas of life and is seen as a life-long learning process including formal as well as non-formal education.
The church has a vital role to play in the democratic structures of modern day society. Democracy is an ongoing process, and the church can participate very effectively through educating citizens to be part of that process.
The Conference on Education for Democratic Citizenship – a role for the churches? took place from October 5-7 in Strasbourg. Organised by the Church and Society Commission (CSC) of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), the conference brought together members of churches and church organisations, clergy, lay, NGOs and academics, to discuss and debate how the church can act as a responsible part of civil society. This was confirmed through a dialogue with representatives of the institutions of the Council of Europe and a member of the cabinet of the EU Commissioner responsible for education. The timing of this dialogue is right, in view of the pending launch of the budget for education, which will be raised by 75% to 15,2 bn € (see note 1).
One very encouraging outcome of the conference was the achievement of openness on the part of the officials of the EU and of local government to keep the dialogue with the churches going. That is a promise for the future.
Report - English
Conference programme - English
Europe for citizens programme of the European Commission - English
"Christianity, Citizenship and Education" by Dr.Liam Gearon, University of Oxford - English
The work of the European Institutions - Presentation by Ms Maria Ochoa-Llido - English
Mr Robert Herrmann, Deputy Mayor of Strasbourg - French
1) Proposal of a new programme for education, training and youth – “Education Europe” 2014-2020 : http://ec.europa.eu/education/news/news2992_en.htm
CSC Report on the Future of European Higher Education describes what the European co-operation in higher education has achieved and not achieved thus far, where it is heading, how it is organised and how churches can join in. The paper also explains the main points of criticism and allows the officials a possibility to respond. The document looks at both the EU and the Bologna Process, now called the European Higher Education Area, which are two separate but intertwined processes. The report was commissioned by the Church of Sweden.
************
The newly established CSC Working Group started its work.
The Working Group will
1. organise a consultation on education for citizenship for those in member churches who are responsible for religious education. It will organise the follow-up of the consultation with regard to CSC, member churches and the European Institutions.
2. translate the findings of the conference and the CSC Education Strategy in an CSC action plan (2012/13 on education involving member churches
3. monitor and dialogue with the European Institutions on matters of education and keep member churches and associated members informed about developments (special emphasis on DG Education/DG Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship of the EU and the CoE Directorate on Education, Youth, Culture and Sport.
4. develop the CSC online library on Education and on Citizenship
Its members are:
Ms Hanna BROADRIDGE - Lutheran Church of Denmark
Mr Vincent DUBOIS - United Church of Belgium
Mr Maximilian KARRASCH - WSCF-Europe
Rev. Dr. Daniel SCHMID HOLZ - Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches
Mr Peter SCHREINER - EKD / Intereuropean Commission on Church and School
Mr Sandor SZECSI - International Association for Christian Education
Rev. Dr. Wolfgang WÜNSCH - Evangelical Church A.B. in Romanian
Dr. Kostas ZORBAS - Orthodox Church of Greece
The staff serving the group is:
Ms Marie-Madeleine LINCK - Administrative Secretary
Rev. John MURRAY - Associate Staff
Ms Diane MURRAY
Rev. Richard FISCHER - Executive Secretary
The WG met in May 2011. It focussed on helping finalising the Conference on Education for Democratic Citizenship. Invitations were sent out to CEC member churches and associate organisations end of June.
For further information on the Conference please contact the Church and Society Commission office in Strasbourg.
2010
In its Plenary in Haguenau/Strasbourg on 28 May – 1 June 2010, CSC adopted an Education Strategy. Education was also accepted as one of the CSC priorities for the year 2011.
The two main areas of work in the Strategy are:
1. Monitoring of the implementation of the EU education strategy (“ET 2020”) on European and national level.
2. Clarifying the contribution of CEC member churches in education for democratic citizenship.
A working group will be established to implement the strategy and further reflect the field of education.
Background paper to the CSC Education Strategy - May 2010
2009
Commission of the European Communities - Green Paper - on:
Promoting the learning mobility of young people - 8 July 2009
Joint answer by CSC, EYCE, WSCF-E and AGDF on the Greenpaper consultation “Promoting the learning mobility of young people” (COM(2009)329final), Commission of the European Communities
2008
On 15 December 2008, CSC - together with the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) and the European Commission - organised a Dialogue Seminar in Brussels on “Quality Education in an Intercultural Environment”. The Intereuropean Commission on Church and School (ICCS), an associated organisation of CEC, and the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME) made a pivotal contribution to the contents of the seminar.
The seminar, which brought together experts on education and migration from churches and church-related organisations, EU institutions and the academic world, examined opportunities and challenges of cultural diversity for educational systems in Europe. The seminar contributed to the (then) ongoing public consultation on the European Commission “Green Paper on migration and mobility: challenges and opportunities for EU education systems” issued on 3 July 2008.
Seminar conclusions by Peter Schreiner, President of ICCS
Presentation of Professor Dr Ramón Flecha, University of Barcelona
Links
Website of ICCS:
www.iccsweb.org
European Commission website on education and training:
ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-policy/doc28_en.htm
Council of Europe website on education
http://www.coe.int/T/E/Cultural_Co-operation/education/
