Importance of ICT and science identified by Education Council
The EU Education Council approved a report on 12 February recommending the safeguarding of access to information and communications technology (ICT) for all, increasing recruitment to science and engineering study programmes and increasing cross-border mobility and exchange. The report, requested by the European Council in Lisbon in March 2000 lays down three goals: - to improve the quality and efficiency of education systems - to facilitate the access to life-long education for everyone - to open up education and training systems to the local and national levels, Europe and the rest of the world. 'That the Education Council has adopted the report, which contains many concrete, significant goals for the education and training systems, is good news indeed,' commented Thomas Östros, current chairman of the Education Council. 'It represents an important first step in our efforts to turn Europe into the world's most dynamic and knowledge-based economy with greater social cohesion.' The report will be submitted to the heads of state and government in Stockholm on 23 and 24 March.