WRITTEN QUESTION P-3370/00

by Nicole Thomas-Mauro (UEN) to the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Intercultural teaching

Through programmes such as Comenius, Socrates and Culture 2000 the Commission promotes projects linked to the intercultural sphere, in particular intercultural teaching.

What criteria does it use to determine the intercultural sphere?

How does it define the intercultural element in education, training, universities and the information society?

Through its various experiences has it been able to define an intercultural approach to teaching?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 2000)

The Commission has for many years supported initiatives aimed at promoting intercultural education.

Since 1995 Socrates, the Community action programme on education, has included the promotion of intercultural education for all pupils among its actions, with the aim of enabling pupils and young people to cope in a positive and active way with social and cultural diversity and preparing future generations for living together in a democratic and plural society. The programme provides support to transnational cooperation projects promoting innovation and the exchange of information and experiences. In this context, projects have explored numerous topics, developed pedagogical materials and promoted exchanges of good practice in all aspects of intercultural education. Good practices have also been integrated into the training modules and courses for educational staff supported by the programme. During the second phase of the Socrates programme (2000-2006), intercultural education has been identified as a horizontal priority across the programme, and special efforts will be devoted to the wider dissemination of the results of European cooperation.

Concerning the Culture 2000 programme, the criteria used to define the intercultural sphere are laid down in the Decision establishing the programme, which states that its objective includes the fostering of intercultural dialogue and mutual exchange between European and non-European cultures(1). This objective is being achieved through the strand of Action 1 (specific innovative and/or experimental actions) which aims to foster an intercultural dialogue and mutual exchange between European and other cultures, in particular by encouraging cooperation on subjects of common interest between cultural institutions and/or other operators in the Member States and those in third countries.

Finally, the Commission's activities in the fields of culture, education and training using multimedia in particular the Minerva Open and Distance Learning experiments provide a very wide range of experience which can be drawn up on. Projects involving multicultural education have responded positively, but this interest is new and should develop further. New technologies could constitute an interesting tool for innovative educational measures for children from other cultures (immigrants and emigrants), children with no fixed residence (those whose parents are in travelling occupations, such as boatmen or fairground workers; gypsy children), and children who leave their home for a certain time (those whose parents are working abroad; children in hospital in another country).

More detailed information on intercultural education projects co-funded by the Commission is being sent directly to the Honourable Member and to the Parliament's Secretariat.

(1) Decision No 508/2000/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 14 February 2000 (OJ L 63, 10.3.2000).