We need a European Union which drives forward education policy, says Graham Lane
It seems that, in most countries, this week’s European elections were fought on various domestic issues rather than on what the European Parliament has achieved. June 4 was seen as a referendum on national governments, with people taking the opportunity to opt for a protest vote. However the European Parliament makes decisions that affect us all in a wider range of fundamental ways.
The Conservatives want to opt out of the Social Chapter, which would mean British workers losing their right to 20 days’ paid holidays every year. They would also lose rights to bring claims over racism, sexism and other discrimination in the workplace. A future Conservative government at Westminster could ignore future European legislation in such matters.
One area of policy where the European Parliament has been effective is with its support for lifelong learning. Millions of euros have been allocated to lifelong learning programmes. As a result, more people in this country have been able to benefit.
Lifelong learning involves schools, colleges and universities in student exchanges with other European countries. Britain has used the programme to involve schools where students have been underperforming. Standards have risen as a result. Priority has also been given to children in care.
These programmes allow young people to spend a certain amount of time studying in other European counties, while students from those places come to Britain. This facilitates closer links between different communities in various nations. Young people increasingly see themselves as citizens of Europe. Students develop new language skills, broaden their horizons and make new friends.
There is an increasing determination to see that the poorer and more sparsely populated areas of Europe are fully involved in lifelong learning. There are also various courses for adults, including those with disabilities, and programmes to help those who have never had the opportunity to learn another European language.
While Britain currently has a lower participation of university students than some other European countries there are plans to change this.
In March this year, the European Lifelong Learning Commission decided to extend its programmes to cover apprenticeships. All such programmes will be funded by the European Union and include the important element of reaching sufficient fluency in a particular European language in order to open up new employment opportunities.
Employers are keen to become involved and discussions are underway about allowing the new 14-19 diplomas to be part of this initiative. Allowing diploma students to do work experience in another European country would add value to their studies.
We should make sure that the skills agenda is part of the learning process for everyone. The aim must be to bring about a modernised workforce better equipped to cope with the demands of our changing world.
Our goal must be to increase the numbers of those taking part in lifelong learning and allocate more funding to these programmes with the newly-elected European Parliament. Other funding should be sought. Bringing together education and industry through apprenticeship schemes and assistance for diploma students will help British firms to establish closer ties with their continental counterparts.
The EU has to be committed to full employment and to opportunities for all to acquire new knowledge and update their employment skills. That is why lifelong learning is so valuable and why we need MEPs who believe that young people should have full access to the opportunities these programmes bring.
Graham Lane is a former chair of the Local Government Association’s education committee
