Second chance schools - fighting the failure to complete schooling and social exclusion
Mrs. Edith Cresson, European Commissioner responsible for research, education and training, recently outlined the "second chance schools" project which aims to lower the failure rate in schools, and the resulting social exclusion. She was speaking at a conference on cultural diversity and social integration, organized by Eurocities, a representative organization of major European cities, in Turin on 11 April 1996. Failure to complete school, which often hits the least favoured groups in society, is the first step on the path to social exclusion, which is often irreversible, the Commissioner said. The aim of the "second chance schools" project is to target the groups most threatened with social exclusion, and offer a further chance of education. The project is in line with one of the principal points raised in the White Paper on education and training, issued by the Commission in November 1995. The project envisages establishment of "second chance schools" in Member States, with both Community funding and support from local authorities. The most advanced project is in Marseille, where all sectors of local government have given support for the construction of such a school.
Countries
France