MEP welcomes new EU report on Lifelong Learning

4.55.36pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 26th Sep 2006

Liz Lynne MEP, co-chair of the European Parliaments Intergroup on ageing and Vice-President of the European Parliament's All Party Disability Intergroup, today welcomed a new EU report highlighting the need for member states to promote lifelong learning for all their citizens.

Speaking from Strasbourg, county Lib Dem Euro-MP Liz said:

"In today's ever changing world, education cannot simply stop when someone leaves school - training and re-training are essential for people of all ages and abilities to allow them to find work and explore new opportunities.

"Importantly, while the report correctly highlights traditional subjects such as languages, maths, science and technology it also identifies that it is important to help people develop their interpersonal and cultural skills.

"I am especially pleased to see that the report highlights the fact that older people and people with disabilities are two of the key groups who benefit the most from lifelong learning but who are often the ones who are overlooked or ignored."

Editor's Notes

The report, which was presented to the European Parliament today, was written in response to proposals by the European Commission on lifelong learning which highlights eight key competences that young people should have acquired by the end of initial education and training and which adults should be able to acquire, maintain and update throughout their lives:

• communication in the mother tongue

• communication in foreign languages

• mathematical competence and basic skills in science and technology

• digital competence

• learning to learn

• interpersonal, intercultural and social competences and civic competence

• entrepreneurship

• cultural expression