Second Education, Training and Employment Forum

Over 200 participants attended the Education, Training and Employment Youth Forum 2013 ‘Working together for reforms’ that took place in Brussels on 17-18 October. The event discussed the situation for disadvantaged youth, in particular the opportunities and barriers to their success in Europe’s education, training and employment systems.

An alliance between education, training and employment

In the morning session Pierre Mairesse from the Directorate General for Education and Culture at the European Commission presented a new tool that monitors progress across Member States regarding their fulfilment of the objectives of Europe 2020 Strategy, in particular the targets to reduce early school leaving and increase enrolment in tertiary education. Initial key findings highlight that the share of early school leavers stood in Europe at 12.7%, down from 13.4% the previous year. Still about five and half million citizens leave school prematurely, which makes it hard for them to find employment. The EU is making good progress towards the target to increase tertiary attainment to 40%. The EU now stands at 35.7%, up from 34.5% the year before. However, it will be a challenge to combine the increase in numbers with a solid quality of higher education.

The first panel looked at the cooperation between formal education and other sectors. The German Federal Employment Agency presented an example of an alliance between education and employment that provides apprenticeships for young people. Mr. Zielonkowski emphasised the role of young people themselves and by extension, youth workers and youth organisations, to make the scheme a success; this translated into many of the participants finding employment after having completed the scheme.

Panellists also addressed the topic of disadvantaged youth and ways to increase their motivation. Elisabeth Gehrke, Vice Chair of the European Students’ Union, argued for looking at education not only in economic terms (e.g. increasing employability), and stressed that education should also have a social role. She criticised the system for the expectations it places on young people themselves; she argued that businesses also need to play their role by providing training for capable young people.

A thematic breakout session on early school leaving looked at the reasons why young people leave school early, such as school failure, mistrust of adults and society or rebellion against social norms. Discussions focused on the need to ensure that education puts young people at the centre, and that cooperation between sectors leads to young people being supported as they proceed through the educational system.

How can the EU help young people?

To help young people in Europe, representatives from the Directorate General for Education and Culture at the European Commission highlighted the need to bring back the disengaged – early school leavers or those not in training nor employment. They referred to European programmes like Erasmus+ and the need for linking up initiatives and sharing practices at local level to assess their transferability. Emphasis was also placed on the role of the EU funds to help achieve the EU 2020 Strategy’s education objectives. The Commission presented the Student Loan Guarantee Facility that enables students to take their Masters’ degree in another European country. At the final roundtable panellists commented on the most important issues discussed at the conference. Businesses representatives insisted on focusing education on developing talent to ensure the employability of young people. Representatives from regional governments emphasised the importance of building bridges and referred to their experience in developing learning communities (including municipalities, schools, parents and local communities) through the COMENIUS scheme. The European Commission emphasised how EU funds should be linked to achieve the objectives that have been set up though policies.

The social aims of educating Europe’s young people

Assessing the Forum, Alfonso Lara Montero, Senior Policy and Research Officer at ESN, welcomed a focus on education aimed at the employability of young people; however, he remarked on the lack of emphasis on the social aims of the education system, with very little said about putting young people in the centre of the education system. Young people may be disengaged because of lack of motivation or interest, but also because the system may have failed to fulfil their needs, or they may feel lost in the middle of an unconnected system. Evidence has shown the lack of education pathways for children in care (read more about the findings of ESN’s seminar on ‘Vulnerable Youth in Transition: Care and Support into Adulthood’). Children may develop mental health problems because of being bullied at school (for example, because of their sexual orientation); children from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds and children with disabilities face more difficulties in succeeding in education and employment. This is where inter-sectoral cooperation between education, health and social services is most necessary. The discussions at the Forum showed that there are some innovative practices on the ground, but in many cases there is a lack of cooperation protocols and professionals continue to work in silos.

Resources

• ESN’s Spring Seminar – read more about the discussions on Transition into adulthood – young people leaving care and Vulnerable youth in transition – early school leavers, and access the presentations


• ESN position paper on early-school leaving


• Education and Training Monitor (full report and 28 country reports)