Verbatim report of proceedings

Monday, 11 June 2018 - Strasbourg

Modernisation of education in the EU (debate)

  Csaba Sógor (PPE). – Mr President, despite ever-faster changes in economic and social life, one truth has remained constant over the years: quality education is as crucial as ever for the well-being of individuals and for society as a whole. Providing for it is one of the best investments a society can make.

Member States are primarily responsible for their education, and there are wide disparities among them. According to a recent World Bank document, Romania’s education system is failing: 40% of Romanian students are functionally illiterate, and one in five children drop out of school. Adding to this, the skills of the workforce have not kept up with the increasing sophistication of the economy and the switch in exports from labour-intensive to high-technology sectors.

To advance from situations such as this, Member States will need EU support to drive reforms in their social and education systems. I am hopeful that through pushes from the Semester process, and with instruments such as the ESF and the SRSP, we will be able to move on together. In this drive, it is essential that we insist on education systems that are truly inclusive and accessible to all people, irrespective of their social, ethnic or linguistic background.

I fully agree with the report’s recommendation for Member States to ensure access to mother-tongue education at all levels for pupils from autochthonous minorities. The EU used to request this before accession; it should continue to do so today, especially because we see that many Member States currently pursue policies in full contradiction of their pre-accession promises.