It was focused on the input and success stories of the Action Plan of the European Pillar of Social Rights at today’s informal meeting of the education ministers. The meeting aimed to coordinate input that will be an input for the Social Summit in May.
„For Estonia, it is important that all our citizens have constantly good opportunities for learning and studying. This is the reason why our new development plans and agenda are in line with the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights,“ said Mart Laidmets, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Education and Research of Estonia who represented Estonia at the meeting. „It is very important that countries have agreed on uniform principles on how to jointly support the self-fulfilment of their citizens,“ he added.
Estonia's progress so far shows that the availability and affordability of nursery places in Estonia is one of the best in Europe and the quality of training of kindergarten teachers has risen. There has also been a significant increase in the number of participants in job-based training in vocational education, and labour and skills monitoring and progonosis systems have been implemented.
For Estonia, the topics related to pre primary education are important, as the development potential of young children high and can be used to build the foundation for future development. It is important to support the opportunities for adults’ education and retraining as well as career mobility and shift and the entry of young people into the labour market, in particular taking into account the changes in the economy, skills needed and the digital and green shift arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The European Pillar of Social Rights agreed in 2017 is based on 20 principles focusing on equal opportunities and access to the labour market, fair working conditions, social protection and social inclusion. According to the principles of the pillar, everyone has the right to a high-quality and inclusive education and self-improvement, retraining, training, including the right for a high-quality and affordable education.
