RECOMMENDATION 611 (1970)
on permanent education in Europe
1. Recalling that, as part of the general theme of "Europe
twenty years hence", the development of permanent education is
one of the major objectives of the Council of Europe ;
2. Recalling its Resolution 422 (1969), by which it decided to
make a contribution to International Education Year in the
form of a study on permanent education in Europe ;
3. Congratulating UNESCO on helping, through the International
Year, to make world public opinion further aware of the
increasing importance of education for developed and
developing countries alike ;
4. Noting with satisfaction that the Council for Cultural
Co-operation has published an excellent series of studies on
permanent education ;
5. Believing, with an eye to the future, that it is of
cardinal importance to all member States that they should each
equip themselves with an educational system that enables
every individual to achieve self-fulfilment by a life-long
process which integrates the whole range of educational
6. Believing that a comprehensive study needs to be made with
a view to deducing the principles which governments should
apply in order to establish in Europe a system of permanent
education that meets the demands of social justice and
economic progress in present-day society,
7. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers ask the Council
for Cultural Co-operation to be guided by the general and
practical measures set out below in its efforts to work out a
system of permanent education to be proposed to the States
which are parties to the European Cultural Convention.
Towards a system of permanent education in
General principles and practical measures
I. Long-term action
1. Information campaign on the need for permanent education to
meet the contemporary demands of social justice and economic
2. Identification of the objectives of the various types of
basic education (i.e. all education - primary, secondary and
technical - except higher education).
3. Study, as a result, of :
- the contents of curricula ;
- interdisciplinarity ;
- the attitude towards knowledge and information
(transformation of the conventional library into a
4. Study of problems regarding examination methods :
- How to stimulate effort without upsetting the balance of
studies or giving rise to inhibiting apprehension ?
- How to achieve a system of continuous assessment that is
not a multiplicity of small tests ?
- Deciding precisely what qualities are to be looked for in
the way in which a pupil performs the exercises which the
study of each subject or group of subjects entails.
After these qualities have been carefully identified and
designated, how can they assessed quantitatively ?
- Building-up of a meaningful portrait of the pupil from
assessments of the individual qualities referred to above.
- Revision of the concept of qualifications so that it is more
in the nature of a periodical confirmation of the manner in
which a person uses these qualifications for the purpose of
carrying out his duties.
5. Study of old age in relation to the society of permanent
- How to prepare for retirement ?
- What contribution can elderly people make to the
implementation of permanent education activities ?
II. Short-term action
1. Review and prospective study of the education of subnormal
children (6-7% of their age group).
2. How can lower secondary education be made attractive and
effective for those pupils who, with conventional educational
methods, show an allergy, even an aversion, to school that is
prejudicial to their development and their participation in
the society of permanent education ?
3. Study of problems connected with the establishment of a
system of educational (social and vocational) facilities for
young people between the school-leaving age and the age at
which they assume civic responsibilities, who are not engaged
in the pursuit of studies or for whom there is no suitable
system of apprenticeship and supplementary training. The
educational assistance envisaged here should cover vocational
training, general education, cultural activities and leisure
4. Compilation and periodical revision by the Council of
Europe Secretariat, for all member countries, of a catalogue
(a) adult education establishments catering for the
various occupational levels ;
youth and leisure activities ;
(c) measures taken by public authorities or firms to
further the cultural and vocational training of
5. Enumeration and development of the information and guidance
facilities which should be made available to families,
teachers and pupils in order to facilitate the choice of the
path to be taken at the end of the lower secondary and upper
6. Human understanding and economic relations among the
countries of Europe call for a greater effort to extend the
teaching of foreign languages in each country. Instruction in
foreign languages is the more effective the earlier it starts,
provided suitable methods are used. Foreign languages should
therefore be taught in primary schools and even in nursery
schools. This means that primary school teachers would need
training in foreign languages. The Council of Europe has
already had occasion to recommend exchanges of trainee primary
school teachers between one European country and another. A
review should therefore be made of the results achieved, and
all necessary steps taken to accelerate the extension of
exchanges and of linguistic and methodological courses for
trainee primary school teachers.
. Assembly debate on 22 September
1970 (15th Sitting) (see Doc. 2817, report of the Committee on
Culture and Education ).
Text adopted by the Assembly on 22 September 1970 (15th