Training, education: teaching and learning, towards the learning society. White Paper

PURPOSE: To present a report on the implementation of the Commission's White Paper on "Teaching and learning - Towards the learning society' CONTENT: To recall, the five main objectives of the White Paper were as follows: 1) to encourage the acquisition of new knowledge; 2) to bring schools and the business sector closer together; 3) to combat exclusion; 4) to develop proficiency in three European languages; 5) to treat capital investment and investment in training on an equal basis. The main aim of this report is to describe the experimental, action and study phase implementing the five objectives stated above. At the present moment it is not possible to conduct a full-scale final assessment of the way the five objectives have been implemented, since many of the measures are still in progress. It is nonetheless possible to take stock of what has been done and evaluate the methodological input in relation to innovative measures conducted on the initiative of the Community institutions and bodies in conjunction with the Member States. According to this report, the implementation of the White Paper has helped define the three main dimensions of work on building a Europe of Knowledge: 1) developing the employability and adaptability of young people and workers: in this instance it is necessary to open new avenues for validating skills, to develop apprenticeship/trainee schemes in Europe (for example, EUROPASS-Training scheme) and to successfully reintegrate young people into the world of work by way of a tailor-made training pathway for young people affected by social exclusion. Other initiatives should be developed such as the launching of the European voluntary service scheme based on the concept of "learning by doing" or the development of language teaching and learning or even encouraging workers to invest in their own aptitudes and skills within a general framework of lifelong learning; 2) boosting knowledge potential : in the framework, it is necessary to open new ways of validating knowledge (automated evaluation tests for a range of general or more vocational knowledge), strengthening co-operation between schools and business in developing partnerships, combat against exclusion, become proficient in at least three Community languages and mobilise the necessary funding in order to enable people to acquire the highest level of knowledge possible; 3) help build a people's Europe: the objective being to create a common social and joint education area in order to base a real sense of belonging to a common social and cultural area and to give everyone equal access to these values and their practical expression as well as the knowledge of languages and cultures. The report highlights that by the end of 1999, the Commission has reached the following stage in the five areas pinpointed by the White Paper, these included: - a number of experimental projects, for example the European voluntary service scheme has even given rise to a newCommunity action programme; - additional work on measures which were already in progress under existing prgrammes; - new ideas and studies to find ways and means of putting these ideas into effect. Moreover, "Second chance schools" pilot projects are also very positive. These are targeted at young people who are "socially excluded" and the aim is to reintegrate them into society and the world of work by giving them a wide range of quality training opportunities. Other results are also underlined such as, the project for European labels for intiatives encouraging language learning. Lastly it is clear that some progress has been made in implementing the White Paper. Innovative experiments and activities have made a very active contribution to creating a Europe of Knowledge. The Commission and the Member States will continue to think about and discuss the matter, based on studies, seminars and expert reports. Provision has been made in the second phase of the Socrates and Leonardo Da Vinci programmes and in the new Youth for Europe programme to introduce new education and training schemes to facilitate the acquisition of new knowledge skills by all groups in the European society.�