Reding bids to help workers gain new skills

Date: 19/10/00

By John Shelley

EDUCATION Commissioner Viviane Reding is poised to unveil her vision of how the EU should develop policies for giving its workforce the skills to compete in the new economy.

Her paper on 'lifelong learning', due to be adopted by the full Commission next week, will set out guidelines for action to ensure workers in the Union have access to the training and re-training they need in the ever-changing jobs market.

Reding will suggest that member states put more money into adult education, and look at ways of formally recognising on-the-job training and improving access to education.

The paper is the first step in a process which Commission officials hope will lead to concrete guidelines for governments on fostering lifelong learning and setting benchmarks for measuring success. "The situation across the Union is very disparate at the moment," said one. "In some member states the concept is very well developed, but there are no comprehensive EU-wide policies for lifelong learning."

Improving workers' access to training is seen as crucial to achieve the Union's goal of modernising its employment market to compete more effectively with the US, particularly in the technology and services sectors.

EU leaders stressed the importance of lifelong learning at their Lisbon summit in the spring, but education policy remains a matter for member states. The most Reding can therefore hope for is a monitoring and advisory role for the Commission.

She will argue that member states must look at ways of ensuring basic skills for all workers; improving investment in human resources; encouraging innovation in teaching and learning; recognising on-the-job or informal training just as diplomas recognise school education; re-thinking education guidance and counselling services; and improving access to training.

Education Commissioner Viviane Reding is poised to unveil her vision of how the EU should develop policies for giving its workforce the skills to compete in the new economy.