Brussels/Bratislava – Slovak Education Minister Tomáš Drucker (Hlas-SD) emphasized the importance of enhancing skills support for adequately addressing labor market demands in Europe during a statement on Monday evening in Brussels. This came after a meeting of the EU Council for Education and Youth, as reported by TASR.
Minister Drucker highlighted that key discussion points included the security and resilience of education systems following the COVID-19 pandemic, the swift advancement of artificial intelligence technologies, cooperation, and combating disinformation. He stressed the need for investments in new technology.
Additionally, topics such as the establishment of a skills union aimed at boosting competitiveness within the EU, the recognition of European diplomas, and, at Sweden’s request, an evaluation of smartphone usage in educational contexts were addressed. Drucker noted that several countries are contemplating potential restrictions on young people’s use of social networks, which could involve pressuring platform operators to modify algorithms and eliminate hateful content.
He reiterated that the EU labor market’s future hinges on skills development, which is intricately linked to the education system, mentioning that Slovakia has initiated several reforms in this sphere.
“We are also working to update the curriculum in secondary schools. The market is evolving at a rapid pace. With the rise of artificial intelligence, the impact on various professions is so swift that we struggle to keep up. What used to take a decade to change has occurred within just a year,” he explained.
While acknowledging the challenges of predicting future labor market trends, Drucker asserted that education is the key to adapting.
“Discussing skills necessitates a connection to the labor market; we must engage with employers and remain adaptable to their needs. We have to consider where development is headed, while also being aware of the implications of artificial intelligence, including potential risks and the need for security and ethical guidelines,” he remarked. He emphasized that a focus on transferable skills is crucial, alongside fostering lifelong learning, and instilling essential skills and habits from early childhood, particularly promoting teamwork and emotional well-being.
“This does not imply that artificial intelligence will replace education or that children will not learn. On the contrary, it aims to make education more engaging and to tackle pressing issues, such as low literacy rates and the academic struggles of children from disadvantaged backgrounds,” he concluded.
On this occasion, Drucker extended an invitation to his EU counterparts to attend the Global Forum on the Future of Education and Skills, which Slovakia is co-hosting with the OECD, as well as to the upcoming summit on artificial intelligence in Bratislava in November. (May 12)
Leave a Reply