EU Seminar: “Implementing the Right to Parental School Choice: The role of Public Funding”

The European Lifelong Learning Platform (LLLP) is an umbrella that gathers 42 European organizations active in the field of education, training, and youth, representing more than 50 000 educational institutions and associations, covering all sectors of formal, non-formal, and informal learning. Every year the LLLP organizes the Lifelong Learning Week.

In line with this year’s theme, OIDEL, together with ECNAIS, ECSWE and FAFCE, organized a side event on the role of public funding in granting parental school choice. This event took place in the COMECE conference room in Brussels and was introduced by a video of the Spanish Member of the European Parliament Isabel Benjumea and by Bénédicte Colin (FAFCE).

 

OIDEL presented the state of funding for parental choice in EU countries. Ignasi Grau (OIDEL) showed that without public funding, school choice is not a right but a privilege of families belonging to the mainstream culture or having a high income. An EU parliament resolution already encouraged “(…)with regard to increasing inclusiveness and ensuring freedom of educational choice, the provision of adequate financial support for schools of all categories and levels, both state schools and not-for-profit private schools, provided the curriculum offered is based on the principles enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and complies with the legal systems and current rules and regulations regarding the quality of education and the use of such funds in the Member State concerned”. Georg Jurgens and Dora Simunovic (ECSWE) highlighted the importance of funding for Waldorf Steiner Schools in Germany and Croatia.

After the presentation, the speakers were invited to dialogue. Arja Krauchenberg (President of LLLP and member of OIDEL’s Executive Committee) also participated and recalled the role of parents.

Vellum Theme

8, rue Le Corbusier CH– 1208 Genève
Tél. +41 22 789 29 49
Fax. +41 22 789 29 22
oidel@oidel.org

   

Vellum Theme

8, rue Le Corbusier CH– 1208 Genève
Tél. +41 22 789 29 49
Fax. +41 22 789 29 22
oidel@oidel.org

   


OIDEL est une ONG avec statut consultatif auprès des Nations Unies,
l’ UNESCO et le Conseil de l’ Europe.

OIDEL is a non- governmental organisation, with consultative status with the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of Europe.

OIDEL es una ONG con estatuto consultivo antes las Naciones Unidas, la UNESCO y el Consejo de Europa.