school
Kirtimai: Lithuania's Roma on education and 'missing England'
Less than 3, 000 Roma live in Lithuania. Representing 0.1% of the population, there are still enough Baltic 'gypsies' to serve as a scapegoat in a country feeling squeezed by the crisis. However, in one Lithuanian village, Romualda, Svetlana, Konstantin and Konsela are helping the community to lift its head
school, integration, union of soviet socialist republic, multikulti on the ground, discrimination, vilnius, poverty
'Our School' documentary: segregated Roma schools despite EU funds
When directors and producers Mona Nicoară and Miruna Coca-Cozma followed three Roma children in a small Romanian village for four years, their film initially about a success story of integration became one about the realities of ethnic segregation. Interview
school, minority, gypsy, emir kusturica, racism, integration, documentary
Belarus schools: language of peasants or programmers?
According to its constitution Belarus has two state languages - Belarusian and Russian. Authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko has repeatedly emphasised the equality of both, but nationalist Belarusians view the state policy as 'russification'. The argument is being played out in the schools
school, belarus, minsk, alexander lukashenko, language, politics, multilingualism
Get a job (for a bob)
So you’re a young graduate in Europe. You’re part of the revolution; adapting yourself to the tempest. It’s a constant effort of imagination – you might be jumping from roots in journalism to hospital corridors, or from debating Socrates to selling high-end clothing. Crisis asks you to do that, to imagine doing the non-job of your dreams. It defines a generation lost and paying the costs
‘Learning German is pointless’: British students abandon foreign languages
Could the British actually be getting worse at language learning? Apparently so. In a 21st century UK, more young people than ever are questioning why they should learn a second language at all
school, languages, communication , exams, trend, youth, life-long learning
Europe and PIIGS: bitchy politics
The acronym 'PIIGS' seems to have characterised the five eurozone losers as that nasty group of girls that everyone hated in school. Since things turned sour on Europe’s financial front, the EU community has shown its bitchy side - a sentiment which is hardly emblematic of the shared vision that the EU was founded on. Rant
Dissecting Europe's crucifix conflict
On 3 November the European court of human rights ruled that crucifixes in classrooms violate the religious freedom of schoolchildren. Representatives from politics and the church roundly condemn the judgement, while many media welcome the decision. The Iberian, Maltese and Italian press react
school, freedom of opinion, italy, european court of justice, religion, eurotopics, euweek
Learn how to practice safe sex at the Højskole, Denmark's alternative school
With no examinations, a free timetable and learning-speed unique to each individual, the 'Højskole' proposes an education without competition (and diplomas), allowing each student to freely express their creativity and live within a community
school, school system, youth, life-long learning, denmark, eurogeneration, fun
An East German childhood: ‘People took off their clothes to express their freedom’
West Germans often subscribe to a pretty grim idea of life growing up behind the wall in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Yet although East German children had few toys and less holidays, were they really less happy than their western counterparts? Eik, 29, recalls his Soviet upbringing
school, 1989, school system, berlin wall, childhood, eastern germany, holiday
Love story: a German teacher deals with an autistic child in Wales
German language assistant Alissa tells the story of a separation in the Welsh valleys in Glamorgan. This article was second runner-up of the 2009 German Youthreporter award, ‘Verliebt in Europa’ (‘In Love With Europe’)
school, health, culture, youth, love, united kingdom, friendship
65% of European students want free university
In Germany, students are threatening to strike. In France, certain universities are blocked for the long term. The question of end of year exams is looming. ‘Students and the further education reform?’ - perilous survey by the European commission
Why would you not do Erasmus?
In France, around 4000 Erasmus bursaries found no takers in 2008. But why say no to an experience abroad? Efficiency, money, elitism…here an assortment of experiences shed some light on the situation surrounding the student exchange programme in Europe
school, erasmus, university, languages, european commission, erasmus, language
For Czech students, European travel is not a priority
Slap bang in the middle of the Czech Republic's six-month presidency of the EU, and not only does the state lack a little enthusiasm for European affairs, but Czech students too seem less willing to go and study in another European country
school, erasmus, university, prague, czech republic, language, mobility
Bologna Process: French universities react
At the end of 2008, Spanish, Italian and Greek universities showed their discontent. In 2009 it is France’s turn to denounce the consequences of the Bologna Process, which recommended a more hierarchical ‘management’ of universities. A professor explains why
school, bologna process, university, protest, expresso, professeurs, professor
Teachers in France and Germany: not lazy sacks
Spending your time passing on your knowledge of and passion for language and literature - what a wonderful job! However in German and French society, the profession is still unable to shake off its crop of clichés. Vies from two teachers from either side of the Rhine
school, germany, stereotypes, gerhard schröder, teaching, rhein, rhine
Bullying: European network online
Be it cyber-bullying via Youtube or tell tale classroom signs: the EU-backed site supports those who may see in-school violence happening and who struggle to know how to cope
school, cyber-bullying , youtube, bullying, violence in schools training online project, children, harassment
This is called Eutopia
It seems paralysed and sometimes looks like it is more a threat than a hope. Europe was born a real utopia, grew up as an institutional mountain and has matured to be an economic rock doubled with a political ruby cube. Between microcredit, citizenship and simple words, various attempts have been made to reclaim the dream
European School in Strasbourg
The first European school in the Alsatian capital opens in September 2008. Concerns arise that it will undermine the international sections of existing schools and how it will relate to the EU
school, report, education system, politics, richard corbett, western eu, strasbourg
