What does the Council of Europe say about...
Guaranteeing the right to education and ensuring quality education
The right to education is a fundamental right enshrined in the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ETS No. 5) and its Protocols as well as the European Social Charter. It remains a fundamental right in times of crisis, even if the ways in which this fundamental right is ensured may need to be adapted.
While access to education is in itself important, the true value of this right can only be realised if education is of adequate quality and if learning opportunities and arrangements enable pupils and students to complete their education in reasonable time and under conditions conducive to quality education.
Council of Europe standards
European Convention of Human Rights, Article 2 of Protocol No.1
Recommendation CM/Rec(2012)13 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on ensuring quality education
Resources
Video about the landmark case brought before the European Court of Human Rights on the corporal punishment of children in school
Tool to upgrade teacher education practices for inclusive education, developed within the EU/CoE Project “Regional Support for Inclusive Education in South East Europe”, 2015
coLAB Toolkit – Inclusive Practices towards Refugees in Higher Education, developed by with the support of the EU/CoE Joint Programme “Democratic and Inclusive School Culture in Operation (DISCO)”, 2019
Education and competences for democratic culture
Democratic institutions and laws will work in practice only if they function within a culture of democracy: a set of skills, attitudes and behaviours, accompanied by values, knowledge and critical thinking that citizens need for life in democratic and diverse societies. Seeking the resolution of conflicts through dialogue, respecting the inalienable rights of minorities when majorities decide, viewing diversity and pluralism of opinion as a strength rather than a threat are some of the features of democratic culture. Education plays a key role in preparing students from the earliest age to become active and responsible citizens participating effectively in democratic life.
Council of Europe standards
Council of Europe Charter on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education
Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture
Resources
Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (Volume I: Context, concepts and model; Volume II: Descriptors of competence; Volume III: Guidance for implementation)
A Compendium of Resources developed by the Council of Europe on the competences for democratic culture
Living Democracy website developed by the Zurich University of Teacher Education (PH Zürich) provides resources in several languages for teachers, students, principals and parents on education for democratic citizenship
Digital citizenship education
To prevent the Corona virus (COVID-19) from spreading further, many member States have had to close schools and universities. Ministries of education throughout Europe have turned to online and distance learning to ensure education is not interrupted. Educators, learners and parents have also had to adjust very quickly to this new way of teaching, learning and parenting.
The digital environment may expose learners of all ages to a lot of information but also disinformation including fake news, confronting harms e.g. cyberbullying, and to such risks as breach of their privacy and fundamental rights. On the other hand, the digital environment and technologies provide various means to discover, learn, create, and participate. For learners to be able to fully harness the benefits arising from the digital environment and to tackle the challenges and risks, they should be equipped with the necessary competences and digital skills.
Digital citizenship education has therefore become a crucial aspect of education and training, alongside the development of digital skills, as it empowers learners through the acquisition of competences for democratic culture to be able to competently and positively engage with evolving digital technologies; participate actively, continuously and responsibly in social and civic activities; be involved in a process of lifelong learning (in formal, informal and non- formal settings) and be committed to defending continuously human rights and dignity.
Council of Europe standards and statements
Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)10 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on developing and promoting digital citizenship education
Ministerial Declaration on Citizenship education in the digital era, Meeting of Ministers of Education, 26 November 2019, Paris
Resources
Council of Europe special web page dedicated to digital citizenship education
Digital citizenship education handbook, 2019
Internet literacy handbook, 2017
To support the educators in these difficult times, the Council of Europe developed a series of lesson plans for educators on topics that are particularly relevant during the recent crisis e.g. solidarity
Academic freedom and institutional autonomy
Academic freedom and institutional autonomy are essential to democracy and the culture of democracy that make our democratic institutions and laws function in practice. They are also among the fundamental values of the European Higher Education Area, and they are important from a double perspective: as essential to democracy and also as essential to high quality education and research. New discoveries cannot be made unless accepted views and dogmas can be questioned.
These fundamental values have been under pressure for some years, and the pressure on democracy has increased further during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic must not serve as a pretext for attacks on our fundamental democratic values.
Council of Europe standards and statements
Recommendation CM/Rec(2012)7 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the responsibility of public authorities for academic freedom and institutional autonomy
Statement adopted by the Global Forum on academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and the future of democracy, 21 June 2019
Other standards
Magna Charta Universitatum
Magna Charta Universitatum: the MCU 2020.
Resources
Liviu Matei and Julia Iwinska (2018): Diverging Paths? Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy in the European Higher Education Area.
Having my qualifications recognized
Having one’s qualifications recognized fairly and speedily is important for those who want to use their qualifications in countries other than the one in which the qualifications were earned. The right to fair recognition of one’s qualifications is not less important in times of sanitary crisis but the ways in which this can be achieved may need to be adapted.
Council of Europe standards
Note: in this area, the Council of Europe works closely with the European Commission and UNESCO through the ENIC and NARIC Networks. Many standards and initiatives are therefore joint.
Overview of subsidiary texts to the Lisbon Recognition Convention
Adaptations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
More specific information may be found on the web sites of the national information centres on recognition (ENICs/NARICs)
Resources
Monitoring the implementation of the Lisbon Recognition Convention (Council of Europe Higher Education Series No. 23)
The Lisbon Recognition Convention at 15. Making Fair recognition a reality (Council of Europe Higher Education Series No. 19
Developing attitudes to recognition: substantial differences in the age of globalization (Council of Europe Higher Education Series No. 13)
Improving fair recognition in the European Higher Education Area: an analysis of nation action plans (Council of Europe Higher Education Series No. 12)
New challenges in recognition (Council of Europe Higher Education Series No. 10) Qualifications: introduction to a concept (Council of Europe Higher Education Series No. 6)
Qualifications: introduction to a concept (Council of Europe Higher Education Series No. 6)
Language education
The Council of Europe views Europe’s linguistic and cultural diversity as a rich resource to be valued and promoted. It recognises that languages are key to our identities and to the democratic functioning of pluralist societies. In response to changing needs in member States, the Council of Europe has developed standards and resources for education authorities and professionals, which benefit all Europe’s citizens. The objectives of the Language Policy Programme form part of the broader role and goals of the Council of Europe (in the context of the European Cultural Convention), concerning in particular the rights of individuals, social inclusion and cohesion, intercultural understanding and equal access to quality education. Furthermore, through its European Centre for Modern Languages the Council of Europe supports member states in bridging the gap between policy, research, teacher education and classroom practice.
Reference documents
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment (CEFR) - the main reference for language education in Europe and beyond, provides a transparent, coherent and comprehensive basis for the elaboration of language syllabuses and curriculum guidelines, the design of teaching and learning materials, and the assessment of foreign language proficiency.
The CEFR Companion Volume (to be published), a preliminary version of which was published online in 2018 as Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment: Companion Volume with New Descriptors, presents the key messages of the CEFR in a user-friendly form and contains all CEFR illustrative descriptors. In times of confinement, educators and learners will find the new illustrative descriptors for Using telecommunications and Online interaction of particular relevance.
Resources
The ECML treasure chest of resources for learners, parents and teachers in times of Covid- 19.
