HC Deb 01 May 2002 vol 384 cc803-4W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what resources have been allocated to implement the conclusions for education made by the Barcelona European Council in March; and what timetable has been set for the implementation of the Council's proposals for(a) ensuring transparency of diplomas and qualifications, (b) the teaching of at least two foreign languages from a very early age, (c) the establishment of internet twinning with partner schools in Europe and (d) the promotion of the European dimension in education. [53525]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

Work is already underway to take forward the Barcelona conclusions on education:

(a) The UK higher education sector is taking forward work on credit transfer and progress files to ensure transparency of diplomas and other qualifications. This is part of the Bologna process, which aims to build a new European higher education area by 2010. The UK National Academic Recognition Information Centre, part of a European-wide network, exists to offer clear advice on mutual recognition and comparability of all higher education awards.

EU member states are also working together on a broad strategy to make vocational qualifications better understood across Europe. The strategy includes work on certificate supplements and developing a common format for CVs for mobile workers to use if they wish to. We are funding the National Reference Point on Vocational Qualifications in Cheltenham to pilot work this year and next to test the Certificate Supplement approach.

(b) We support the aspiration to improve opportunities for language learning. Currently we are developing a national language strategy that will identify what we need to deliver and how we will deliver it, taking account of resources available and our existing policy commitments. The strategy will be published in the autumn. Currently language learning is a requirement for all 11–16 year olds. Our ambition is that all primary school children will be entitled to study languages by 2012.

(c) The European Commission is undertaking a feasibility study to identify options for helping secondary schools to establish or enhance an internet twinning link. The Commission will report to the Seville Council in June, and we expect decisions about implementation to be taken by the Council in the light of the options identified.

(d) Pupils in England are already taught about Europe and the European Union at secondary school. They are taught about the history of Britain in its European and wider context within National Curriculum History. They will learn about the world as a global community, the role of the European Union and the UK's relations in Europe, including the European Union in National Curriculum Citizenship as a statutory National Curriculum subject in secondary schools this September. We have spent just over £1 million to date to support the production of resource materials for teaching citizenship and we will spend about £500,000 in 2002–03.