EU / Education reform key to growth

Europe’s governments must improve their education systems to help kick-start jobs and growth, the European Commission has said.

The Commission has no direct role in national education policies but agreed a “strategic framework for European co-operation in education and training” with member states in 2009.

Now Education and Culture Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou wants to monitor national education systems as part of a new “Rethinking Education” strategy.

A Commission report declared: “To unlock the full potential of education as a driver for growth and jobs, member states must pursue reforms to boost both the performance and efficiency of their education systems.”

The Commission points out that the EU youth unemployment rate is close to 23% – and yet about two million job vacancies cannot be filled.

“Europe needs a radical rethink on how education and training systems can deliver the skills needed by the labour market. Today, the European Commission is launching a new strategy called Rethinking Education to encourage member states to take immediate action to ensure that young people develop the skills and competences needed by the labour market” said the report…

Choosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor from

via Education reform ‘key to EU growth’ – World News, Breaking News – Independent.ie.