§ Mr. CasaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the outcome was of the Education Council held in Luxembourg on 8 June; and if he will make a statement. [125786]
§ Ms JowellThe Council of EC Education Ministers, at which the UK was represented by Nicol Stephen MSP, Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning in the Scottish Executive, adopted a Decision to establish the European Year of Languages 2001.
Ministers held an open debate on the future challenges and objectives of education systems in the learning society. The Council agreed that education and training policies would play a key part in ensuring the successful follow-up to the conclusions agreed at the Lisbon European Council, and on the need for Education Ministers to feed into the Luxembourg Employment Process. Ministers recognised that benchmarks and the exchange of good practice could be useful tools in supporting appropriate action at member state level. Ministers put forward proposals for policy areas which should be covered by the report of Education Ministers to the Stockholm European Council in spring 2001. Discussion covered the Commission's work on the e-learning initiative, which was welcomed by member states.
The Commission presented a report on quality indictors in school education. It also gave progress reports on the Recommendation on Quality Evaluation in School Education, and the Recommendation on Mobility within the Community for students, persons undergoing training, young volunteers, teachers and trainers.
A copy of the Council minutes will be placed in the Library.