Education Science and Technology and Life

  Europe's ability to compete in a world of global networks will depend to an ever increasing extent on the scientific and technological education of its citizens. The Committee of Ministers should encourage member States to devote greater attention than in the past to this kind of basic education at school and in the educational system. In addition, prerequisites for lifelong development and refreshment of science and technology literacy will have to be created and promoted in the educational system as a whole. Scientific issues should not be presented at schools just here and there, in bits and pieces, but rather in their full context. Young people should not be trained as narrow-track specialists, but rather to learn how to understand the influence of science and technology on our world in a comprehensive manner. Teachers should show how the meaningful use of science and technology could help to solve major problems facing mankind. Young people need to learn how to learn as ...

  An evaluation of the situation cannot ignore the fact that the present lack of science and technology literacy observed in many countries is the result of shortcomings in the school system. Many teachers of mathematics, science and technology have an excellent command of their subject, but do not have sufficient teaching talent or training as teachers. They find it difficult to make knowledge taken from their own world of experience understandable to children on the basis of examples, evoking their enthusiasm for the subject in question, and arousing their scientific curiosity. There is too much lecturing, mechanical memorization , and asking of quiz questions. The critical abilities of pupils are not always developed and it is precisely these abilities that are of importance for basic education in science and technology. In Eastern Europe teachers are poorly paid in many cases, which is why it is often necessary to employ teaching assistants who do not have the necessary qualifi...