s launched a new initiative, ‘Pathways to Schools Success’.
This combines different instruments – from policy guidance to peer learning and the exchange of information and best practices, to financial incentives – to stimulate policy reform.
In particular, in 2022 the Commission will put forward a proposal for a Council Recommendation on Pathways to School Success. The Recommendation will call for evidence-based, coherent and collaborative strategies and actions against underachievement and early leaving from education and training.
Member States will be encouraged to reinforce the development of comprehensive policies, addressing all levels of school education – early childhood education and care (ECEC), primary and (lower and upper) secondary education and vocational education and training (VET).
They will be invited to place a strong focus on monitoring, prevention (including pupils’ motivation) and intervention, to be combined with measures to support those who left education without an upper secondary qualification, such as second chance education programmes.
Policies should be based on strong cross-sectoral collaboration and involve stakeholders from different policy areas, such as youth, culture, sport, social/welfare policy, employment and health.
The Recommendation, an initiative of the European Education Area, will address the following dimensions
- school governance and leadership, including quality assurance
- learning environments – curricula, assessment, targeted support and tools, transitions between educational levels
- learners and learning climate with a focus on pupil well-being and positive interaction embracing pupil diversity and well-being at school
- enhancing the role of teachers in tackling educational disadvantage
- the involvement of parents and families in school decision-making and activities
- collaboration in and around schools with stakeholders and the wider community
Work is now underway to prepare the proposal for a Council Recommendation.
A public consultation will be run (starting June 2021) to gather input and hear the views of interested individuals and organisations.
A series of consultation events with organisations active in the field of education and the environment is also being organised.
The proposal for a Council Recommendation will be adopted by the Commission in 2022 and submitted to the EU ministers of education in the Council of the European Union, which will discuss and adopt it.
Inclusive education and reducing early leaving from education and training are also central to the new Erasmus+ programme.
The Recommendation will be accompanied by the ‘European Toolkit for Schools: Promoting inclusive education and tackling early school leaving’.