WRITTEN QUESTION P-1204/98 by Odile Leperre-Verrier (ARE) to the Commission (6 April 1998)

Subject: Safety in schools

At the most recent meeting of the Council of Education Ministers, it was decided that measures would be taken with a view to securing a higher level of safety in schools. Can the Commission state what measures are currently being considered in order to reduce the incidence of violence in schools?

In particular, can the Commission indicate what pilot projects have been envisaged?

Reply given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (5 May 1998)

On 22 September 1997 the Council adopted its conclusions on safety at school ((OJ C 303, 4.10.1997. )). Whilst pointing out that safety impinges on, and is a condition for, quality in education, the Council recognises in its conclusions that the majority of Member States are increasingly confronted with issues of safety in schools. It calls upon the Member States and the Commission to structure and step up cooperation in this field, through the exchange of information based on experience acquired in this field and current experiments in the Member States.

In the wake of these conclusions, the 'Violence at school' initiative was launched at the end of 1997. A group of experts was appointed, comprising representatives of the Member States, European teachers' trade union organisations and parents' associations, and chaired by the Commission. This group of experts, which has already met on four occasions, is responsible for coordinating national activities with those undertaken at European level. The group also ensures the exchange of information on the policies adopted in this area in the Member States.

At the end of 1997 the Commission was able to support an initial series of pilot projects. 38 project proposals were submitted to the Commission, requesting funding for a total amount of ECU 3.65 million. 19 transnational projects were selected from these proposals. The total amount of funding granted amounts to ECU 558 330, or just under 15% of the total requested, under budget heading B3-1000 (general cooperation and education measures). These projects involve 152 institutions from 17 countries, including schools (34), universities (27), training centres (11), local, regional or national authorities (58) and associations (22). As for the types of project, these include: action programmes (prevention and intervention) involving schools and education centres (12 projects), development of teaching materials (2 projects), training measures for teachers, pupils and parents, partnerships between schools and parents, the police, the judiciary, local authorities (1 project), networks for the exchange of information and experience (1 project) and European conferences (1 project).

These projects are in their initial phase. In order to ensure the best possible coordination between all the activities, the Commission organised a meeting between the project coordinators at a meeting of the group of experts. When this meeting took place in Brussels on 25 and 26 March 1998, the European activities were presented and discussed, thereby helping to establish a wider network of cooperation.

The Commission has also just launched a second call for proposals for 1998 ((OJ C 111, 9.4.1998. )), for transnational pilot projects. Proposals are expected which will complement current actions, particularly those concerning activities in the area of prevention of violence and development of pro-social behaviour amongst schoolchildren.

The Commission intends to improve information on this initiative for both the general public and the experts in this area, notably through the Internet site created on the Europa server, located at http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg22/violence/home.html. Particular effort will be made to ensure dissemination of the most useful practices and experience, for example in the area of prevention of violence or training of educational players.

The activities undertaken within this initiative will be reviewed at the end of 1998, and an overall report is planned for June 1999.