Flanders tests Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture
On 11 and 12 April, Brussels hosted the "25th Session of the Council of Europe Standing Conference of Ministers of Education". Minister for Education, Hilde Crevits opened the conference and underlined its importance. The education ministers of 20 countries met to discuss the role of education in acquiring and developing citizenship and democratic values among young people. This way, the ministers want to offer a positive response to the challenges of radicalization today.
The ministers created a reference framework of competences teachers can use to teach students about citizenship and democracy. Today, this framework, consisting of 20 core competences, is translated into specific objectives: What does a student need to know, what skills does a student need to have in order to master a competence? This translation turns the reference framework of competences into a useful tool for teachers.
12 countries - including Flanders - will test this framework in the classroom. In 2017 the system will be evaluated. Minister Crevits: "In November last year I invited my fellow education ministers to this conference. Hosting the conference in Brussels, only a few weeks after having experienced such terrible attacks, is a strong signal. It is important that we teach our youth values like democracy and citizenship, that we make them strong and resilient, looking at our society with an open mind and critical for areas that need improvement. The competency framework can be a useful tool for teachers to use in schools."
Council of Europe – Conference of Ministers of Education