Reshaping the role of education for “digital citizens”

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 14042 | 26 April 2016

Signatories:

Mr Andres HERKEL, Estonia, EPP/CD ; Mr Raivo AEG, Estonia, EPP/CD ; Ms Elena CENTEMERO, Italy, EPP/CD ; Ms Lise CHRISTOFFERSEN, Norway, SOC ; Lady Diana ECCLES, United Kingdom, EC ; Mr Markar ESEYAN, Turkey, ALDE ; Mr Franz Leonhard EẞL, Austria, EPP/CD ; Mr Thomas FEIST, Germany, EPP/CD ; Mr Axel E. FISCHER, Germany, EPP/CD ; Mr Valeriu GHILETCHI, Republic of Moldova, EPP/CD ; Mr Francesco Maria GIRO, Italy, EPP/CD ; Mr Carlos Alberto GONÇALVES, Portugal, EPP/CD ; Ms Dzhema GROZDANOVA, Bulgaria, EPP/CD ; Ms Rózsa HOFFMANN, Hungary, EPP/CD ; Mr Rafael HUSEYNOV, Azerbaijan, ALDE ; Mr Ekmeleddin Mehmet İHSANOĞLU, Turkey, EC ; Mr Giorgi KANDELAKI, Georgia, EPP/CD ; Ms Ioanneta KAVVADIA, Greece, UEL ; Mr Eduard KÖCK, Austria, EPP/CD ; Ms Borjana KRIŠTO, Bosnia and Herzegovina, EPP/CD ; Ms Stella KYRIAKIDES, Cyprus, EPP/CD ; Ms Inese LĪBIŅA-EGNERE, Latvia, EPP/CD ; Mr Andrei NEGUTA, Republic of Moldova, SOC ; Mr Zsolt NÉMETH, Hungary, EPP/CD ; Ms Liliana PALIHOVICI, Republic of Moldova, EPP/CD ; Ms Carmen QUINTANILLA, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Frédéric REISS, France, EPP/CD ; Mr Rudy SALLES, France, EPP/CD ; Mr André SCHNEIDER, France, EPP/CD ; Ms Chiora TAKTAKISHVILI, Georgia, ALDE ; Mr Egidijus VAREIKIS, Lithuania, EPP/CD ; Mr Sinuhe WALLINHEIMO, Finland, EPP/CD

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

These “digital natives” need to develop a range of skills such as information literacy, media literacy, ICT literacy, but also critical thinking and creative problem solving ability, content knowledge, social and emotional competencies, cultural and ethical awareness as well as entrepreneurship to cope with complex life and work environments.

The Parliamentary Assembly is concerned that school systems in Europe have so far not evolved to adequately prepare children and youth to become competent and responsible digital citizens. There is still a serious gap between the latters’ informal knowledge and social media practices, the real-world needs, and the practices of educational institutions.

Europe must imperatively develop innovative pedagogic strategies that can simultaneously support the acquisition of a deep knowledge base, critical understanding and modern skills and competences. To this end, the Assembly welcomes the recent launch of a new project by the Council of Europe Steering Committee for Educational Policy and Practice (CDPPE) on digital citizenship education. The Assembly must contribute to the reflexion on how to reform school systems to provide the young generations with necessary competences and leaning experiences, and teachers with a new set of teaching competences.