Amended proposal for SOCRATES programme on education and training
Further to the European Parliament's opinion of 22 April 1994, the European Commission has published an amended proposal for a Decision on SOCRATES, the Community action programme for education and training (1995-1999). SOCRATES will focus on transnational actions contributing to the development of quality education throughout the European Union and the professional and social insertion of young people in European society. Horizontal actions within SOCRATES will also promote linguistic abilities and the use of open and distance learning. The proposal is amended to include the following issues: - The importance of training in order to provide "life-long learning"; - Increased access to education, particularly for the less-privileged in order to combat social exclusion; - The inclusion of an intercultural dimension in education and improvement of the quality of education for the children of migrant workers, children of gypsies and occupational travellers; - Special measures to promote equal opportunities for boys and girls.