Activities of Peter POLLÁK related to 2022/2149(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the system of European Schools: state of play, challenges and perspectives
Amendments (27)
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas Accredited European Schools (AES) are schools which are not a part of the network of European Schools organised by the intergovernmental organisation ‘The European Schools’1a; whereas their purpose is different than the original one of the European Schools; _________________ 1a https://www.eursc.eu/Documents/2019- 12-D-12-en-1.pdf
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the ESS, in combining the educational systems of Member States – through parallel language sections – with a strong European dimension, multilingual education and a focus on science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics, as well as pedagogical innovations, represents a laboratory for educational reformsource of experience which has not been sufficiently used, including for the creation of a European Education Area (EEA);
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the Commission plays an important role in the ESS and the scope thereof needs to be broadened, given that its involvement is currently limited to human resources and budgetary matters, leaving the equally important educational aspects out of the equation; as well as the Commission’s role in representing the institutions acting as employers out of the equation, the Commission should have the means to adequately protect the rights of the families of the Union for whom the schools have been set up, and therefore the scope of the Commission’s role needs to be broadened;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas parents play a key role in school life, such as in delivering extracurricular activities and providing transport and other services and the Statute of the European schools gives parents a say also with regard to pedagogical questions and all issues of school life, their contribution and role should be adequately recognised;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the lack of accountability of some host countries, coupled with decisions taken by the schools’ administration which are responsible for providing and maintaining school buildings, has led to serious issues, especially in Brussels; whereas these issues have had profound repercussions on the standard of education and organisational aspects, as well as on the safety, security and well-being of students and staff alike;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses the need for a critical, in- depth assessment of all aspects of the ESS, and for reform to future-proof the system and ensure that it serves as a model for the exchange of good practices across educational systems; , believes that more can be done to ensure that pupils can successfully move back to their home countries and continue studies without any impediments; notes, however, that this is not always the case, with reports across various language sections that pupils returning home have not attained the required academic progress and, as a consequence, are required to repeat a school year;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Believes that a placement should be guaranteed for every pupil whose parents or legal guardians have satisfied the criteria for enrolment in the ESS; notes that currently, this is not always the case;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for increased accountability around the ESS, tighter parliamentary scrutiny and control, and improved visibility and understanding of the ESS and the European Baccalaureate in the Member States; including with a view to maintaining its recognition for granting non-discriminatory University admission in the Member States under the Convention defining the Statute of the European Schools;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Insists on the need to streamline and increase the flexibility of the BoG’s decision-making and action, including through an alternative voting system, to enable the BoG to better respond to the needs of schools; calls for clear responsibilities, annualtransparent and accurate external communication on decision- making, periodic performance appraisals, and training and development plans for all senior and middle management staff, including structured induction, at central and school levels;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the BoG to: a) clarify the applicability of primary and secondary EU legislation to the ESS; b) amend the staff regulations and the General Rules of the European Schools, including to explicitly clarify the competences of the Complaints Board vis-à-vis national courts; and c) put in place an independent ombudsperson to address complaints about maladministration and mediate in conflicts ensuring that there is no gap in legal protection, c) put in place a mechanism to address complaints about maladministration and mediate in conflicts and d) develop a code of administrative good conduct covering the OSGES and each Schools’ management;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Notes with concern that parents or legal guardians are implicitly discouraged from pursuing a contentious appeal of a decision by the Central Enrolment Authority (CEA) due to legal fees involved; is concerned, therefore, that decisions by CEA may have led to situations where pupils were wrongly denied a placement;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Requests thatInsists on the Member States to finally meet their obligations vis-à-vis the ESS in full, particularly with regard to the secondment of qualified teachers and the provision of adequate infrastructure (suitable premises, maintenance thereof and upgrades thereto), and calls for a binding system of direct financial contributions to ensure greater flexibility for both the ESS and the Member States;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Is concerned about the overcrowding of some ESS schools in Brussels; notes that this has an adverse affect on pupils’ wellbeing whereby their academic, recreational and other needs are not properly met; notes that the schoools’ growth often disproportionally impacts smaller language sections;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the BoG to urgently resolve ongoing teacher shortages and ensure a stable and fair employment situation for all by retaining staff and reducing turnover, thereby avoiding a brain drain; calls, in this regard, for a strengthened employment package for seconded and locally recruited staff alike, with competitive remuneration, more equal salaries for nursery, primary and secondary teachers, clarity about employment status and stability, continuous professional development (CPD) and further career prospects in and beyond the ESS;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls for a degree of autonomy to be ensured for teachers and schools alike, for additional middle management posts focused on high-quality teaching methodologies and curricula to be introduced at schools, and for all recruitment procedures to be more transparent and open; calls to consider establishing the framework for professional-pedagogical development, furthermore, for an urgent review of the enrolment arrangements and school fees, and for the full potential of the AES to be exploited, including to address overcrowding;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Calls for an urgent review of the enrolment policies and emphasises the importance of the sibling rule; expresses concerns about the fact that siblings are often placed in different schools in Brussels; notes that this leads not only to inconveniences for the families involved, but has prevented growth in already small language sections;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on the BoG to strengthen educational and pedagogical standards by: a) creating a task force with relevant pedagogical expertise drawn from open, transparent and regular consultation with stakeholders by mid-2024 to review and update the quality assurance approach put in place as part of the 2009 European Schools reform; b) introducing an enhanced and accountable inspection regime, including permanent chief inspectors, subject-specific inspections and follow-up processes that include AES; c) reinforcing the role of the OSG’s Pedagogical Development Unit and the Joint Teaching Committee; and d) ensuring ESS participation in EU programmes and initiatives such as the Erasmus+ Teacher Academies and the EEA;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls foron the Member States to use the full potential of experienced ESS teachers to become trainers and mentors in national systems and emphasises the role that should be played by the ESS in establishing a European teachers’ module, to be included in the initial training of teachers across the EU;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Requests the BoG and the OSG to boost inclusion and improve educational opportunities, including after-school activities for all students, with a focus on class size, teacher-to-children ratio and better catering for students with particular educational needs, including by considerably increasing the number of educational and psychological support staff in place and the provision of orientation and mentorship services, requests the BoG and the OSG to develop a strategy to allow for ad-hoc support for teachers and children with particular educational needs, in particular in nursery and primary;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Requests the BoG and the OSG to develop and implement overreaching and harmonised whole-school anti-bullying programmes outlining a clear sanctioning system for all class levels, from nursery to secondaire, which promote peer support systems and involve active and well- trained teachers and parents, to foster a safe learning environment in which no form violence is allowed, and sanctions are clearly enforced;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Insists on the need to deliver a high-quality educational experience for all students, including those without a language; calls for respect of applicable rules and insists on continuation of small language sections into the secondary cycles as well as ensuring longterm that every EU language has a dedicated section (and SWALS) as a concept becomes unnecessary; calls for an update of existing curricula with a view to further strengthening the link between the ESS system and national schools systems as well as the European dimension, including through the teaching of history and citizenship education, as well as an increase in the number of ‘European Hours’ at all educational levels, with a focus on the importance of European values, heritage and digital and green skills; given that the European Schools always provided for inclusive education, insists on further educate to cultural diversity, including ethical and religious diversity;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls for the establishment of a formal ESS alumni community and the collection of data on students’ paths after graduation, also with a view to strengthening the non-discriminatory acceptance of the European Baccalaureate through mandating the OSG to collect anonymized information on the university education and success of its graduates;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Asks for the financial contributions from the EU to the ESS to feature asimprovement and transparency of the EU financing to the ESS while recognising the creation of a separate budget line in future EU budgets as one of the options, in order to increase transparency and facilitate parliamentary scrutiny, including under the discharge procedure, and requests that the ESS be included in the development of the EEA;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Expresses its wish that the ESS will become a beacon for high-quality multilingual and multicultural education in Europe and beyond, demonstrating that being ‘united in diversity’ can also be a living reality in the educational sphere; asks for all stakeholders to work towards that aim, including through enhanced collaboration withwhile using the experience of the AES, whose further inclusion and development are key for the whole sysshould be reevaluatemd;
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls for an independent, external expert body to explore and propose alternative governance models, including a review of the Convention defining the Statute of the European Schools and the possibility of replacing the schools’ intergovernmental legal status with a supranational European model; expresses its wish to consider including representatives of the European Parliament in the BoG;