6 European Indicator of Language Competence
| (28553)
8387/07
COM(07) 184
| Commission Communication: Framework for the European survey of language competences
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| Legal base | — |
| Department | Education and Skills
|
| Basis of consideration | Minister's letter of 5 June 2007
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| Previous Committee Report | HC 41-xxi (2006-07), para 2 (9 May 2007)
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| Discussed in Council | 25 May 2007
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
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Previous scrutiny
6.1 In 2002 the Barcelona European Council called for the "teaching
of at least two foreign languages from a very early age"
and "for the establishment of a linguistic competence indicator".[12]
In 2005, the Commission made proposals for the indicator. Every
three-years a sample of 15 year-olds would be tested for their
competence in two languages other than their mother tongue.[13]
6.2 In May, we considered this Communication, which set out the
Commission's further proposals for the survey of language competences.[14]
The main proposals were as follows:
- The first survey should be conducted in the first six months
of 2009.
- The 2009 survey should test reading comprehension; listening
comprehension; and writing. The Commission would develop a test
of speaking foreign languages for use in subsequent surveys.
- The 2009 survey should test competence in the five most commonly
taught EC languages — English, French, German, Spanish and
Italian. The tests in any particular country would be of the two
languages most commonly taught in that country.
6.3 The Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher
Education at the Department for Education and Skills (Bill Rammell)
told us that the Commission's proposal for the tests to be carried
out in the first half of 2009 was against the express and unanimous
opinion of the Advisory Board on the European Indicator of Language
Competence, a body of language experts from the Member States.
He said that the UK would have major problems with a survey in
2009 because it would clash with the next round of OECD PISA (surveys
of the reading, maths and science skills of 15-year olds) and
with an international study of civics and citizenship education.
The Government would resist any attempt to start the fieldwork
during 2009.
6.4 We supported the robust position the Government intended to
take on this point at the Council of 25 May. We asked the Minister
to tell us the outcome of that discussion. Meanwhile, we kept
the Communication under scrutiny.
The Minister's letter of 5 June 2007
6.5 The Minister tells us that, at the Council meeting, he objected
to the proposal to carry out the survey in 2009. The UK's view
was supported by many Member States and the Commission agreed
to put back the survey until 2010. The Council also agreed that
subsequent surveys would include tests in all the official EU
languages.
Conclusion
6.6 We welcome the outcome of the Council's discussion on 25
May and clear the Communication from scrutiny.
12 Barcelona European Council, 15/16 March 2002, Presidency
Conclusions, Part I, paragraph 44. Back
13
(26769) 11704/05: see HC 34-xxviii (2005-06), para 10 (10 May
2006). Back
14
See HC 41-xxi (2006-07), para 2 (9 May 2007). Back
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