Education: Commission publishes overview report on teachers in Europe

Today, the European Commission has published the report ‘Teachers in Europe‘. It sheds light on several key aspects of teachers’ professional life, from careers and professional development to their wellbeing, in particular of lower secondary education teachers. Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, states: “Teachers are the front-line workers in education. Having motivated teachers is an essential pre-requisite for a successful education system, in which pupils from all backgrounds can flourish and reach their full potential. The transition from face-to-face to distance learning has further underlined the vital role of teachers. I am confident that this report will be a great help to education policy‑makers and other stakeholders at national and European level.” Although, on average in the EU, one teacher out of five works on a temporary contract, this ratio becomes one in three for teachers under 35 years of age. The report examines teachers’ initial education, and policies that may influence the take up of continuing professional development. It also explores teachers’ wellbeing at work, considering that, at EU level, almost 50% of teachers report experiencing stress at work. The report also suggests that teachers who have been abroad during their initial teacher education tend to be more mobile during their professional life. The EU programmes are the main funding schemes for teacher transnational mobility, compared to national or regional programmes. The report covers all 27 EU Member States, as well as the United Kingdom, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Switzerland, North Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, and Turkey. This report was drafted by the Eurydice Network, which provides reliable information and comprehensive analyses of European education systems and policies. The network consists of national units located in European countries and is coordinated by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency. More information is available online and the full report here. Read the JRC report here.