On 19 October, EFEE agreed on its position paper on “Promoting civic education, intercultural dialogue and democratic citizenship, and facilitating migrants’ integration in the educational and socio-economic environment of the host countries”.  EFEE deems it very important that with the Paris Declaration, the issues of promoting civic education, intercultural dialogue and democratic citizenship, and facilitating migrants’ integration into the educational and socio-economic environment of the host countries, have been put high on the European agenda. It is clear that education has an important role to play in fostering social cohesion, preventing marginalisation and radicalisation, and helping young people to become responsible, open-minded and active members of our diverse society.

As emphasised in this Position Paper, we are convinced that EFEE and its member institutions, as employers in education, could provide a valuable contribution to the follow-up process of the Paris Declaration. Education employers have a pivotal role to play in defining school leadership and governance structures, setting up educational institutional features, creating positive, diverse and open learning environments, promoting modernisation of teachers’ and school management’s skills and competences, and establishing alliances with the broader community. These are all aspects which are of great importance to reinforcing social cohesion, promoting active citizenship and intercultural dialogue, and facilitating integration of migrants.

The position paper is available here.

 Anthony Walker Authentic Jersey