Presentation by the Minister for Education & Skills, Ruairi Quinn T.D.,

to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on EducationSocial Protection

education council of 26 November 2012

14th November 2012

Education Council Meeting, 26thNovember 2012: Overview

The Council of Education Ministers is normally held three times annually. Minister Quinnwill represent Ireland at the next meeting of the Council on 26thNovember.

The Agenda for the meeting includes the following:

  • A presentation on the ‘state of play’ on the regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing ‘Erasmus for All: the Union Programme for Education, Training, Youth & Sport’.
  • Adoption of Council conclusions on Literacy
  • Adoption of Council conclusions on Education & Training in Europe 2020 – the contribution of education & training to economic recovery & growth
  • Adoption of a Council Recommendation on the validation of non-formal and informal learning.
  • Policy debate on ‘Improving teacher quality and status at a time of scarce resources’
  • Information from the Irish delegation on the Work programme of the incoming Presidency

The Education Committee, which is the working group of officials that prepares the agenda for the Council, has developed and agreed the content of these texts. Our own officials have actively participated in this process and we can accept the content of the agenda.

The intent of alltexts is to progressthe overall agenda set by the EU 2020 strategy for growth and development agreed by the European Council in June 2010. They will also progress the agenda of Education and Training 2020 (ET 2020), which is the strategic framework for European co-operation in education and training up to 2020, agreed by Ministers for Education in May 2009.

More detailed information on each of the textsis provided below.

Issue 1:

Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing ‘Erasmus for All’: the Union Programme for Education, Training, Youth & Sport

Erasmus for All is the integrated successor programme to the EU’s Lifelong Learning, Youth in Action and Erasmus Mundus Programmes. It is due to come into effect from 1 January 2014 and run until 2020. The new Programme is aimed at developing a more integrated approach between education and youth-related programmes and between the various existing EU higher education programmes.

The regulation will be subject to agreement by both Council and European Parliament.

The Danish Presidency agreed a ‘partial general approach’(partial agreement), on all aspects of the programme unrelated to the multiannual financial framework (MFF) negotiations, at the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council on 10-11 May.Agreement on the MFF takes place centrally, at ECOFIN, the Council of Finance Ministers.

On the basis of the partial general approach, the Cypriot Presidency has been negotiating with the Rapporteur and Chair of the European Parliament’s Education & Culture Committee on behalf of Council. The Presidency proposes to update the Council on the current ‘state of play’ in the negotiations, and on any outstanding issues, which will fall to the incoming Irish Presidency to resolve.

Current Issues

Ireland’s major concerns have been addressed and we have no outstanding issues with the text.

Any outstanding issuesbetween the Council and the European Parliament willfall to be resolved during Ireland’s Presidency. In order to be effective during these discussions and negotiations, it is important that, in advance,Irelandis seen as impartial on the outstanding issues of concern. Since our major issues have been resolved, we will take an impartial approach at Council on the topic.

Further detail on Erasmus for All is provided at Annex 1

Issue 2:

Council conclusions on Literacy

Member States are invited to adopt this conclusions document, which aims to advance monitoring of literacy levels, introduce awareness raising measures, promote family literacy, promote equitable access to high quality early childhood education, review learning materials including non-formal learning resources, and introduce guidelines on teacher competences.

Irish position

Ireland was very supportive of the conclusions and updated the Education Committee on developments in the area in Ireland, most notably our National Strategy for Literacy and Numeracy, ‘Literacy and Numeracy for learning and Life’.

Issue 3:

Council conclusions on Education & training in Europe 2020 – the contribution of education & training to economic recovery, growth & jobs

On 10 July 2012, under Europe 2020, the European strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, the Commission issued country specific recommendations on a number of topics to Member States:

  • promoting access to good quality pre-school and school education,
  • reducing the number of early school leavers,
  • facilitating the transition of young people from education to the labour market,
  • improving educational outcomes and relevance of skills to the labour market,
  • reinforcing vocational education and training,
  • modernising higher education, and
  • improving access to education for disadvantaged groups.

In light of these country specific recommendations, the Presidency drafted conclusions on the contribution of education and training to economic recovery, growth and jobs.

By adopting these conclusions, member states are invited to develop and implement reforms aimed at tackling the challenges identified in the country specific recommendations. The conclusions invite member states and the Commission to respond to these and to ensure greater coherence between sectoral committees operating at EU level on education, employment and social policy.

Irish position

Ireland is supportive of the document, and, under our forthcoming Presidency, we aim to build on establishing coherence between these various sectoral Committees.

Issue 4:

Council Recommendation on the validation of non-formal and informal learning.

The Cypriot Presidency has proposed a Council Recommendation inviting member states to establish systems validating non-formal and informal learning. The logic behind this is the need to recognise the full range of an individual’s knowledge, skills and competences – those acquired not only at school, university or other education and training institutions, but also outside the formal system, is increasingly being acknowledged. This requires a new approach to validate such learning experiences; identify, document, assess and/or certify, making them usable for further studies or advancement in work.

The proposed Recommendation invites member states to establish validation systems linked to the European Qualifications Framework by 2015 with the possibility of obtaining a full or partial qualification on the basis of non-formal or informal learning.

Irish position

Ireland welcomed the publication and intent of the Recommendation, particularly the support it gives member states in implementing systems for the recognition of prior learning.

Issue 5:

Policy debate on ‘Improving teacher quality and status at a time of scarce resources’

This discussion will follow on from the discussion held at the informal meeting of education ministers in Nicosia on 4-5 October 2012 at which ministers stressed the need for improving recruitment, professional development and competence of teachers, school leaders and trainers in order to enhance the quality of instruction, learning environment and attractiveness of the teaching profession.

The discussion paper states that the quality of teachers’ knowledge, skills and attitudes is a determining factor for the learning experiences and achievement of goals set in every educational system and that the quality of the educational system will be enhanced through improvement and continuous upgrading of teachers’ skills and competences.

Irish position:

This is particularly timely in two aspects, the first being the current reforms taking place in the teacher education sector in Ireland, and secondly, our principal Presidency priority of Teacher Education. As part of our Presidency agenda, we are proposing the adoption of Council conclusions on improving policy support for the teacher educator profession, which will be informed by a linked Presidency conference on the role of teacher educators.

Our Presidency will also consider the importance of teacher evaluation and will hold a presidency conference on better assessment and evaluation for improved learning and school systems.

The Irish contribution to this debate will not only be able to suggest ways in which the quality of teachers can be improved and their role supported, but can also demonstrate how we are actively pursuing these aims through our presidency priorities.

Issue 6:

Information from the Irish delegation on the Work programme of the incoming Presidency

The Minister will deliver a presentation on the upcoming priorities of the Irish Presidency of the EU in Education & Training.

A briefing note is attached at Annex 2.

Annex 1

Additional Briefing on Erasmus for All (Budget & Allocations)

Overall Budget

The regulation (as currently constituted) envisages a 70% increase over current levels in the funding available for the programme for the period 2014-2020.

Budget discussions are taking place centrally in the Council of Finance Ministers under the Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) negotiations.

The Cypriot Presidency, though somewhat constrained in continuing the discussion in the absence of an agreement on the MFF, has met with the European Parliament on a number of occasions with a view to gaining agreement on the outstanding issues of the text.

Financial allocations to various programmes and sectors

Discussions at Education Committee (which prepares for Education Council) have largely concerned ‘state of play’ updates on Cypriot Presidency negotiations with the European Parliament.

The financial envelope, as currently proposed by the Commission, for the implementation of this Programme for the 2014-2020 period is just over €17 billion. The financial envelope will be allocated as follows:

  • 65% is allocated to learning mobility of individuals
  • 26% is allocated to cooperation for innovation and good practices
  • 4% is allocated to support for policy reform.
  • 3% will cover operating grants to National Agencies (which will manage the programme in Member States)
  • 2% will cover administrative expenditure

The corresponding minimum allocations by policy area are:

  • 25% for higher education
  • 15% for vocational education and training and adult learning (2% for adult learning)
  • 7% for schools and
  • 7% for youth

This is similar to the current allocation among sectors under the existing programmes.

Annex 2

Ireland’s EU Presidency, 2013

Main policy priorities for the Irish Presidency Programme

Department of Education and Skills

Education and Training:

It is expected that the Council will, during the Irish Presidency, face the important challenge of reaching agreement with the European Parliament on Erasmus for All, the new EU programme for education, training and youth. Bringing this process to a successful conclusion will be a key priority on the education and training agenda.

The two main overall themes of the education and training dimension of the Irish Presidency will be quality and equity.

Education and training have a key role to play in tackling the unemployment crisis. In this regard, priority will be placed on addressing issues related to extending access to education and training and ensuring its quality and relevance in terms of the knowledge and skills needed in today’s society and for today’s labour market. We will also continue the process of integrating the education and training agenda to a greater extent into the European Semester process to support economic recovery. The upcoming Commission communication on rethinking education will inform consideration of the skills issue and, subject to the timing of its publication, the adoption of Council conclusions responding to it will be proposed for the February 2013 Education Council. Under the Copenhagen process for enhanced co-operation in Vocational Education and training (VET), the assigned semester theme for Ireland’s Presidency is quality assurance and a meeting of Directors General of VET will progress this agenda item.

Other priority topics to be addressed within the framework provided by the open method of co-ordination are:

  • Schools/Teachers: Quality outcomes at all stages of the teacher education continuum are vital to high-quality teaching which, in turn, is vital to achieving better student outcomes. Recognising the strategic importance of the issue, the adoption of Council conclusions on improving policy support for the teacher educator profession will be proposed and a linked Presidency conference on the role of teacher educators will inform deliberations on the conclusions.

A Presidency conference will also be held on the theme of better assessment and evaluation for better learning and better school systems. In line with the overall Presidency theme of quality, the conference will reflect upon, and respond to, the recent work of the Commission on assessment of key competences in schools and that of the OECD on evaluation and assessment frameworks for improving school outcomes.

A meeting of Directors General of Schools, to be held in Brussels and co-chaired by the Commission and the Irish Presidency, will also address topics linked to the overall Presidency themes of quality and equity.

  • Higher Education: In line with the EU2020 agenda to step up modernisation of higher education and achieve the headline target that 40% of 30-34 year olds should have completed tertiary or equivalent education by 2020, the adoption of Council conclusions on the social dimension of higher education will be proposed. Effective strategies to ensure access to higher education for non-traditional learners and students from disadvantaged backgrounds will form an important part of Member States’ efforts in working towards the headline target. A Presidency conference focusing on the EU University Multiranking Project (U-Multirank) and a meeting of the Directors General of Higher Education focusing on the value of regional clusters in higher education in fostering optimal regional engagement will also contribute to the modernisation agenda in this sector.

Ireland will alsohave the Chair of the Bologna Process during the Presidency. Thekey event will be a meeting of member countries in Dublin in March, and the focus for the six-month period will be commencing work on the various actions adopted by Ministers in April 2012 for the next 3 year period.

  • Qualifications: National Qualification Frameworks and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF): A Presidency conference will be held on the theme of quality assurance in qualifications frameworks. It will include, linked to the skills agenda, a focus on how employment sector actors are engaged in quality assurance and on quality assuring learning outcomes in relation to the needs of the labour market. It will also address issues related to the convergence of the EQF and the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) frameworks.

It is envisaged that the following legislative dossiers will require attention during our Presidency:

  • Regulation establishing "Erasmus for All', the EU Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport for 2014-2020

Objective: first reading agreement with European Parliament.

As stated already above, it is likely that reaching agreement with Parliament on the Erasmus for All regulation will be a key task on the education and training agenda. Erasmus for All will focus on the mobility of students, pupils and educators, support for policy reform in MemberStates and co-operation with non-EU countries. It will also concentrate on strengthening the evidence-base for policy making and on exchange of good practice as well as on co-operation and partnership between educational institutions and with businesses to promote innovation and employability.

  • New Directive to amend Directive 2005/36 on the recognition of professional qualifications.

Objective: first reading agreement with European Parliament.

This Directive sets out the procedures which must be adhered to by competent authorities (i.e. regulatory bodies) when recognising the qualifications of professionals migrating from other EU Member States, and for related matters.

The Commission published its legislative proposal in December 2011. The timeframe for adoption of the amending Directive is unclear at this point but it is likely that the dossier will pass to the Ireland, with possible adoption during our Presidency.

  • Regulation on the European Social Fund (ESF), 2014- 2020
    Regulation on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF), 2014- 2020

Objective: first reading agreement considered unlikely; it is hoped to reach agreement with European Parliament at second reading.

It is anticipated that the task of finalising negotiations on the regulations for the operation of the next round of both ESF and EGF funding will fall to the Irish Presidency.

  • Decision on the Strategic Innovation Agenda of the European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT)
    Regulation amending 2008 Regulation which established the EIT

Objective: first reading agreement with European Parliament.

The Commission published its legislative proposals for the EIT for 2014-2020 in November 2011. It is likely that the task of finalising negotiations on the two legislative proposals involved will fall to the Irish Presidency.

Overall shape of Ireland’s Presidency programme in Education and Training

Events in both Brussels and Dublin are listed.

Brussels:

  • Meetings of the Education Council on 15 February 2013 and 16 May 2013.
  • Approximately 10 Education Committee meetings
  • Directors General of Schools meeting to be co-chaired by the Commission and the Department, dates tbc
  • Anticipated meetings on:
  • New Directive to amend Directive 2005/36 on the recognition of professional qualifications – to be chaired by DES
  • Proposed regulations on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) & European Structural Funds (ESF) – the Department will have chairing responsibilities on EGF within the Social Questions Working Group (SQWG); ESF is being handled as part of the overall Cohesion package - the Department will be involved in servicing meetings of the Structural Actions Working Group (which will be chaired by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform) when the ESF Regulation is being discussed.
  • Proposed regulations on the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) – the Department will be involved in servicing meetings of the Research Working Group (which will be chaired by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation) when these regulations are being discussed.
  • Ministerial dinner with Trio counterparts and European social partners in the IrishCollege in Leuven which will take place on the evening of 15th May 2013 (i.e. the evening prior to the May Education Council)– themes are under consideration.
  • Associated Events
  • Conference on validation of non-formal and informal learning – to be organised by the Commission (event tbc).

Dublin: