International Conference on Education.
Workshop 3A. 9 September 2004.
The workshop started with a film about the Finnish comprehensive school model, which demonstrated increasingly participative and inquiry-based teaching and learning methods.
Emphasis was put on the interaction between the different social actors: school, community, family, religion, media and decision-makers. The concept of providing young people with the competencies necessary to succeed in their professional and personal lives was evoked. It is a question of assuring that the generic competencies sharpen the creativity of young people as well as equip them to manage situations of crisis independently. Citizenship education encourages dialogue between different linguistic, social and cultural groups. This education not only prepares young people for their working lives, but also teaches them social values.
Questions were raised concerning the quality of education at different levels including:
· How can we face up to the challenges of our time guaranteeing the promotion of peace, solidarity, and respect in all national contexts?
· How can we design programmes so that all those from different backgrounds have an equal chance to succeed?
It goes without saying that firm commitments will be necessary to deliver a truly democratic education.