The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging our education systems and institutions, which need to innovate the ways in which we learn, teach and assess qualifications. The risk of increased exclusion and inequality in access to education is another effect of the sanitary crisis. In order to respond to these issues, on 29 October the Greek Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers is organising an online conference of Ministers of Education.

Niki Kerameus, Minister of Education and Religious Affairs of Greece, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe and Mariya Gabriel, European Union Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, will speak at the event’s opening. The first session will focus on how the 50 States Parties to the European Cultural Convention can continue to ensure the right to quality education under the pandemic for all students and how the Council of Europe’s education programme can be adapted to the COVID-19 and post-COVID situations. The second session will focus on the role of education in raising awareness of cultural heritage at risk from climate change. The relationship between cultural heritage, climate change and sustainable development will be explored in the framework of the Council of Europe’s Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture.

The Conference will be invited to endorse a Political Declaration on the education response to COVID-19. The Declaration is accompanied by A Roadmap for Action on the Council of Europe education response to COVID-19, which lists concrete actions the Council of Europe will undertake to assist its member states in making the right to education a reality in times of COVID-19.

Press release
Conference of Ministers of Education: responding to the COVID-19 crisis