ESC welcomes eLearning action plan but urges moves to reduce exclusion
The European Economic and social committee (ESC) has adopted an opinion on the Commission's eLearning action plan, pressing for action to minimise the digital divide, lower Internet costs, training for teachers in new technologies and a European system of certification for key skills and qualifications. The eLearning action plan covers the period 2001 to 2004 and sets out specific education related objectives and measures for 2001 and 2002 in the areas of infrastructure, training, high quality multimedia services and content, and dialogue and cooperation at all levels. The ESC welcomes the initiative as a 'modern and alternative approach to learning that will address, explore and solve the problems of the digital age,' and urges all the European institutions, national governments, regional and local authorities, organised civil society and businesses to work together to implement the plan. In their opinion, the ESC calls for action to reduce the risk of exclusion when implementing the initiative, specifically by increasing digital skills among teachers, supporting children who do not have a computer at home through schools with relevant services and developing a system for monitoring technological changes and making the relevant information available to both teachers and users. The opinion notes the need for reducing Internet access costs and improving technology so as to provide Internet access for 'everybody in Europe', and tackle the development of monopolies in this area. The committee also propose addressing the lack of relevant skills with the help of lifelong learning. Particular attention should be paid to adults in the context of electronic learning, the paper argues. Lifelong learning can also be used to maintain Europe's cultural diversity in the new digital environment, according the ESC. The opinion recognises the need to attract young people to science and technology, and to promote the access of women to jobs in these sectors and 'explicitly supports' the Commissions proposals on these issues contained in the action plan.