The Reykjavík Summit underlined the importance of education in giving children and young people the necessary references to grow up embracing democratic values in culturally diverse societies. The new Council of Europe Education Strategy 2024-2030, launched at the 26th Conference of Ministers of Education, focuses on three pillars: renewing the democratic and civic mission of education; enhancing the social responsibility and responsiveness of education; advancing education through a human rights-based digital transformation.
While competences for democratic culture, civic engagement, learning methodologies, and responsiveness and innovation in and through education are essential concerns, these aims cannot be achieved in isolation. Care for the learners’ holistic development, mental health and well-being in a safe environment are pillars of quality education. To nurture democratic values, schools must be an inclusive space of socialisation where all may feel recognised and respected, and enjoy being with others.
Violence, bullying, discrimination, racism are unfortunately still present in school settings. Learning to live together in diversity, respecting and tolerating different attitudes that arise from coexistence are part of the socialisation process and a key element to implement learning strategies, such as cooperative learning and project-based learning, with special attention to vulnerable learners.
The spread of new technologies and the use of social media, video games, virtual realities and generative artificial intelligence models may have great educational benefits but create new problems, including stress, anxiety, a sense of isolation and alienation, and new forms of violence and bullying that the educational system must deal with.
The Parliamentary Assembly should urge Council of Europe member States to further promote the socialisation aspects of a quality education in the digital age, with a view to improving the learners’ safety, mental health, and well-being, fostering democratic values, and strengthening tolerance and inclusion in a sustainable society.