Calling for respect of fundamental educational rights in Europe! / The Fédération Européenne des Ecoles (FEDE) advocates freedom of choice in education

Lyon (ots) - Over 500,000 students were represented this weekend in Lyon by the Fédération Européenne des Ecoles (FEDE) which was holding its General Assembly and celebrating its 40th anniversary. Thanks to its consultative status as an NGO, the FEDE - whose members are a total of more than 1,500 schools in 15 of the 45 member states of the Council of Europe - is now the largest European association of independent schools.

Its president and its committee were re-elected by a large majority - and defined the priority objectives between now and 2007:

(1) Diversity, complementarity and free competition in education in the 45 member states of the Council of Europe, with the consequence of freedom of establishment (for schools) and freedom of choice (for parents/students).

(2) Strict application of European legislation on fundamental rights to education ... and therefore an end to the state monopoly on education in the last countries concerned and with increased official control.

(3) Development of quality and European accreditation procedure for the FEDE training curriculum, with certification of the European Diploma and system of equivalence (ECTS). Certificate of "European citizenship and culture".

(4) Cultural plurality, geographical mobility and international exchanges through research projects, teaching and technology transfers and training periods in countries other than the country of origin.

Besides the presentation of the brochure "FUNDAMENTAL EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION", published by the FEDE with the support of the EU, there were two speeches which brought the Congress to a close:

"THE ROLE OF NGOs AT THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE" by Daniel ZILINSKI, President of the NGO Liaison Committee and "CONTRIBUTION BY THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION" by Mrs. Carole REICH, representing the Director for Education, Training and Teaching of the C.E.