How to promote, based on education and training, from a lifelong learning perspective, the skills needed for Europe to establish a more just, more cohesive, more sustainable, more digital and more resilient society

Key points

The EESC:

• recommends, in order to achieve high-quality and inclusive education and training and lifelong learning for all, establishing achievable long-term goals and a constant monitoring system within the European Education Area (EEA) for each Member State;
• calls for the implementation of the EEA at national level, following effective social dialogue with teachers; proposes the regular adjustment of the EEA's indicators and benchmarks and to add others such as on green skills and competencies;
• indicates that democratic governance of education and training systems needs to be strengthened and secured and involve meaningful consultation with organised civil society;
• calls for the effective implementation of the first principle of the European Pillar of Social Rights, with the involvement of the relevant social partners, civil society organisations and with the support of sustainable public investment and the Recovery and Resilience Facility;
• points at the importance of taking a holistic approach to the implementation of recent EU initiatives on education, vocational education and training, skills, youth education and digital skills;
• proposes fighting against increasing inequalities in schools and in society in general via effective joint social and education policies at national level;
• calls on Member States to ensure support for those facing difficulties in accessing quality and inclusive adult education and training, via targeted funding for those in need;
• calls for the implementation of the Council Recommendation on the Validation of non-formal and informal learning and the Lisbon Recognition Convention; reiterates that micro-credentials should not be overregulated to preserve their flexibility to the needs of the labour market;
• welcomes the fact that the Digital Education Action Plan 2021-27 focuses on equal access to digital tools, the internet, and digital competence and skills development; underlines that its implementation needs to ensure amongst others, effective social dialogue and consultation with stakeholders;
• calls for the efficient and consistent use of the Recovery Plan, the Next Generation EU and other EU funds, such as ESF+ for the support of education and training policies;
• points at the importance of teaching key competences, such as social sensitivity, empathy, intercultural dialogue and citizenship skills, across the whole education and training process;