RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL AND OF THE MINISTERS OF EDUCATION MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL

of 13 December 1976

concerning measures to be taken to improve the preparation of young people for work and to facilitate their transition from education to working life

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES AND THE MINISTERS OF EDUCATION , MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL

Having regard to the Treaties establishing the European Communities ,

Referring to the resolution of the Council and of the Ministers of Education meeting within the Council of 9 February 1976 comprising an action programme in the field of education ( 1 ) and in particular points II and III and point IV , paragraph 22 thereof ;

Referring to the Community measures and activities concerning vocational guidance , which were the subject of Commission Recommendation 66/484/EEC ( 2 ) , to those concerning vocational training which were the subject in particular of Council Decision 63/266/EEC ( 3 ) , of the " general guidelines " adopted by the Council ( 4 ) and of Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 337/75 ( 5 ) , to those concerning equal treatment for men and women , which were the subject of Council Directive 76/207/EEC ( 6 ) , and to those concerning action by the European Social Fund for persons affected by employment difficulties , which were the subject of Council Decision 75/459/EEC ( 7 ) ;

Taking account of the interest of the European Parliament and of the Economic and Social Committee in the relationship between the education and employment of young people , and of the importance attached to this question by employers and labour ;

Conscious of the grave problems facing so many young people in the transition from school to adult and working life ;

Having regard to the abiding and distinctive responsibility of educational systems in preparing young people for working life during the period of compulsory schooling and in subsequent general and vocational training , and to the importance of providing educational opportunities for all young people to realize their potential ;

Taking note of the initial report of the Education Committee on the preparation of young people for work and for their transition from education to working life ,

HEREBY ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION :

I . This resolution and the report of the Education Committee shall be communicated to the European Parliament and to the Economic and Social Committee . The report , including its annexes , shall subsequently be published .

II . Member States will :

1 . take account , in developing their national policies , of the conclusions and measures suggested in the Education Committee ' s report concerning , in particular :

( a ) the devlopment of curricula and teaching methods providing appropriate preparation for working life at all stages of general education and vocational training , and promotion of closer links between these two types of education ;

( b ) the promotion of a system of continuing educational and vocational guidance , involving the participation of parents , teachers and counsellors ;

( c ) the provision of continuing education and training opportunities for all young people particularly those who finish their compulsory schooling with insufficient educational achievements or without formal qualifications ;

( d ) the particular needs of , and compensatory educational strategies for , those young people who for social or economic reasons , or because of personal handicaps , are most at risk in changing employment conditions ;

( e ) the initial and continuing training of teachers , so that they may prepare young people more effectively for working life and counsel them in choosing between alternative opportunities in employment , further education and training ;

( f ) the improvement of the presentation and collation , and more rapid dissemination , of information on education , the employment of young people and their aspirations and motivations ;

( g ) the strengthening of consultation and coordination between education and vocational guidance , training and placement services to facilitate the preparation of young people for their entry to working life .

2 . exchange and compare experience periodically in the Education Committee .

III . The actions set out below shall be implemented at Community level to complement national initiatives taken during the period up to 31 december 1980 :

1 . The implementation of pilot projects and studies to assist in the evaluation and development of national policies in respect of the following priority themes :

( a ) the educational and training requirements of those leaving the educational system who encounter problems in securing and retaining employment in which they can find satisfaction and opportunities for personal development , and appropriate measures to resolve these problems ;

( b ) the problems of poor motivation among many young people towards education and work , and the measures which might be adopted to stimulate their interest and participation ;

( c ) the design and development of specific actions to :

- ensure equal educational opportunities for girls ,

- assist young migrants ,

- promote adequate measures for target groups with special problems, such as the young physically and mentally handicapped ;

( d ) the development of a continuing process of guidance and counselling , peaking at the crucial periods of choice and spanning the final years of compulsory schooling and the post-compulsory period , with particular regard to collaboration between those responsible for education , guidance , training and placement ;

( e ) the improvement of vocational preparation in the final years of compulsory schooling and in the post-compulsory period , particularly by the promotion of cooperation between the education and employment sectors ;

( f ) the promotion of measures to improve the initial and in-service training of teachers so that they may more effectively prepare young people for working life .

2 . The preparation of a report analyzing :

( a ) the experience of Member States in strengthening the coordinated planning of education and other sectoral policies in relation to the less-favoured regions of the Community ;

( b ) existing and planned provisions and measures under which young persons may return , as part of continuing education , to further study during the period immediately following the end of compulsory schooling .

3 . The organization of :

( a ) study visits relating to vocational education and guidance intended for specialists in these fields ; and

( b ) workshops for teachers and trainers of teachers concerning the transition from education to working life . As appropriate , interested employers ' and workers ' representatives could also be invited to participate .

4 . The preparation by the Statistical Office of the Communities of guidelines for the comparison of existing statistical information regarding the transition of young people from education to working life , taking account of specific national needs , so as to facilitate the work of policy makers in the education , employment and other sectors concerned . The production , also by the Statistical Office , of a regular analysis of the situation in the Member States , which could include available information on the following aspects : the flow of pupils and students into different sectors of employment and into the different types of post-compulsory education and training ; the social characteristics and education of schoolleavers and of young people unemployed , and the participation of young people in part-time vocational education either at educational institutions or in industry .

5 . The extension of existing Community arrangements to provide regular information on trends and developments relating to vocational guidance and preparation for working life , within both general and vocational education , this information being designed in particular for local and regional policy makers and for staff of teacher training establishments .

IV . A report shall be drawn up by the Education Committee on the measures taken at Community level and within Member States and on the results achieved .

V . The Community ' s financing of the measures specified in point III above shall be decided in accordance with the Community budgetary rules and procedures .

( 1 ) OJ No C 38 , 19 . 2 . 1976 , p. 1 .

( 2 ) OJ No 154 , 24 . 8 . 1966 , 2815/66 .

( 3 ) OJ No 63 , 20 . 4 . 1963 , p. 1338/63 .

( 4 ) OJ No C 81 , 12 . 8 . 1971 , p. 5 .

( 5 ) OJ No L 39 , 13 . 2 . 1975 , p. 1 .

( 6 ) OJ No L 39 , 14 . 2 . 1976 , p. 40 .

( 7 ) OJ No L 199 , 30 . 7 . 1975 , p. 36 .