WRITTEN QUESTION E-3651/97 by Barbara Weiler (PSE) to the Commission (19 November 1997)

Subject: Reduction of training period for teachers from 12 + 3 to 11 + 3 years

The Berlin Senate administration for Education, Youth and Sport has decided to change the admission requirements for the College of Social Education in order to reduce the existing training period for teachers. The profession of teacher at present requires a three-year period of training at a college for social education preceded by a period of 12 years' schooling. This preparatory period is now to be reduced by one year. This means that the period of training will now be 11 + 3 years instead of the 12 + 3 years required at present.

Has the EU issued a separate directive governing the training of teachers as part of its endeavours to harmonize educational qualifications?

If the total duration of teacher training within the EU had been fixed at 12 + 3 years, would this result in the non-recognition of German teachers' qualifications in the other Member States if training in Germany were shorter than this? Would this not deprive teachers trained in Germany of the chance to work in other European countries?

If the reduction in the training period desired by the Berlin Senate violated the provisions of an EU directive, what steps could be taken against the Berlin Senate?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (6 January 1998)

The Honourable Member's question refers to the situation already raised in Written Questions E-1936/97 ((OJ C 21, 22.1.1998. )) and E-3638/97 ((OJ C 187, 16.6.1998, p. 33. )) by Mr Tannert. The recognition of diplomas for special needs teachers and social workers, in the Member States in which these professions are regulated, is governed by the Community Directives which introduced the general system for the recognition of diplomas. Depending on the level of the studies covered by the diplomas, the relevant Directives are either Council Directive 89/48/EEC of 21 December 1988 on a general system for the recognition of higher-education diplomas awarded on completion of professional education and training of at least three years' duration ((OJ L 19, 24.1.1989. )), or Council Directive 92/51/EEC of 18 June 1992 on a second general system for the recognition of professional education and training to supplement Directive 89/48/EEC ((OJ L 209, 24.7.1992. )).

Each Member State remains free to determine the level of qualifications required in order to work as a special needs teacher or social worker within its territory. The Directives did not harmonise training, but established a recognition system under which a diploma providing access to a given profession in one Member State must be recognised for the purpose of exercising the same profession in another Member State, despite differences between education and training systems. Thus, Germany is perfectly entitled to decide the level of qualifications required to work as a special needs teacher or social worker. The qualification in question is covered by the recognition arrangements established by Directive 92/51/EEC. That Directive provides that, in the event of substantial differences in duration or content between the migrant worker's training and that required in the host Member State, the latter's authorities may impose a compensatory measure (adaptation period or aptitude test). In certain cases, therefore, having regard to the length of time needed to obtain the new German diploma and that required for the corresponding qualification in the host Member State, the application of one of these compensatory measures may be justified.