Reding launches e-skills drive

Date: 18/05/2000

By John Shelley

EDUCATION Commissioner Viviane Reding will next week flesh out her plans to ensure that all pupils in Europe's schools leave with the skills they will need in the digital age.

In a paper due to be approved by the full Commission on Wednesday (24 May), Reding argues the best approach towards achieving this goal is to focus on tried and tested projects, rolling them out across the Union.

"The idea is to develop 'beacon' projects, which have been chosen for their quality and will then be used as practical examples of how we think things should go in the future," explained one official. She cited the European school-net project as an example. This is a joint scheme between the EU and other European governments which allows children from different parts of the continent to communicate over the Internet. "There are many good initiatives going on in Europe and learning from them is going to be an important part of the approach," added the official.

But Reding's aides warn that it will be up to member states to ensure the plan is implemented, pointing out that most of the money to meet the ambitious targets proposed would have to come from within existing Union structural funds. "Basically the only thing the Commission can do is say this is a priority. It will be up to the member states to put it into practice," warned one.

Education Commissioner Viviane Reding will flesh out her plans to ensure that all pupils in Europe's schools leave with the skills they will need in the digital age, in a paper due to be approved by the Commission on 24.5.00.