At the 26th session of their Standing Conference, which ended in Strasbourg on 29 September, Ministers of Education set new priorities and actions to implement the Reyjkjavik Principles for Democracy by adopting five resolutions and endorsing the 2030 "Learners First" strategy.

Renewing the democratic and civic mission of education; enhancing the social responsibility and responsiveness of education; advancing education through a human rights-based digital transformation - these are three pillars of the new Council of Europe Education Strategy 2024-2030, launched at the 26th Conference of Ministers of Education.

"The strategy is a new ambitious plan to prioritise the well-being of learners," underlined Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić in her closing speech, "so that they become confident and engaged citizens in our democracies, comfortable dealing with complex issues and diverse communities - and at ease with the digital technologies that open new doors to learning, but whose dangers - including disinformation, manipulation and hate speech - can be recognised, interpreted and rejected."

The well-being of learners is considered as essential for their holistic, long-term development and academic success through a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

The main actions of the strategy will focus on promoting flexibility in curriculum and programme design, learner autonomy, professional development of education professionals, and democratic and participatory governance of education systems and institutions.