Part of the problem is rooted in difficulties with assessment. For example, only 11 European countries (Belgium Flemish community, Bulgaria, Estonia, Ireland, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Finland) have standardised procedures to assess citizenship skills, which aim to develop critical thinking and active participation in school and society. Such testing does not exist at all for entrepreneurship and IT skills in any of the 31 countries which took part in the survey (27 EU Member States, Croatia, Iceland, Norway and Turkey). The report also outlines progress in teaching six of the eight key competences defined at EU level for lifelong learning in knowledge, skills and attitudes.

It is still surprisingly unusual for schools to teach digital competences as part of science, mathematics and languages. The report shows that integrating IT, entrepreneurship or citizenship education into core subjects may require schools to change the way they teach, as well as establishing agreed learning outcomes and appropriate assessment methods.

The report provides analytical evidence for policy-makers and supports the approach adopted in the European Commission's new 'Rethinking Education' strategy, due for adoption tomorrow (20 November). This outlines the measures which Member States need to take to ensure education and training systems deliver the skills required in the modern workplace.

The Report is available here.

Source: European Commission