By: Kira Vernon-Gauthier, ELFAC Project Manager
The European Large Families Confederation (ELFAC) welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to develop a comprehensive European Strategy for Vocational Education and Training (VET) to strengthen competitiveness and address skills shortages across the Union.
ELFAC agrees that reinforcing vocational education and training is an important way to ensure Europe’s economic resilience and autonomy. On the other hand, ELFAC would like to explain the importance of family within this study. This initiative focuses on positive aspects of VET such as strengthening skills and labor market responsiveness, however, it does not address the inequalities large families face when accessing learning opportunities, especially when pursuing a second degree.
Currently, Europe faces persistent labor and skills shortages in specific sectors, particularly in those that require vocational training, such as healthcare, technical professions, green industries, and digital technologies. Simultaneously, the Union faces a demographic crisis which is leading to declining birth rates and increasing pressure on social systems. ELFAC believes that large families contribute greatly to Europe’s demographic and economic balance. With this, large families still face significant challenges such as financial barriers when looking to re-skill/up-skill later in their careers.
With Europe’s economy being defined by fast paced technological change, this makes employment increasingly difficult in the long term. Changes in careers, new technology, and the shift toward green and digital industries make it vital to have flexible education options and access to second degrees for the population. Without financial support from the government, large families may be disproportionately affected because of their household expenses being higher than the average person and having higher caregiving responsibilities.
If the European Union wants to make VET more inclusive, they must include large families in this decision. Supporting access to the opportunity to obtain a second degree for large families would strengthen the social inclusion disparity that Europe is currently experiencing.
ELFAC recommends these following measures:
- ELFAC asks the European Commission and Member States to actively recognize large families as contributing members to Europe’s economic sustainability and demographic. Any policies designed to strengthen vocational education and training must include family-friendly practices to ensure access to all individuals.
- ELFAC encourages the aid of financial support such as tuition coverage and grants, scholarships for large families, and study support for individuals who are in a large family pursuing a second degree, especially in areas experiencing labor shortages.
- Lastly, ELFAC suggests that flexibility be recognized and strengthened between vocational and higher education, which will help ensure that learners with family responsibilities can engage in re-skilling/up-skilling learning opportunities. These mechanisms within VET should include measures that ensure accessibility for large families.
- ELFAC asks for the attention of VET to acknowledge students who have children, in order to facilitate access to education without discouraging parenthood and discrimination, and allowing older students, women in particular, to continue their studies.
Below is the tool kit used for higher education institutions for dealing with situations arising in the case of students raising children and with families.
In order to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, ELFAC believes supporting families who sustain Europe’s future workforce is essential. An inclusive VET strategy must acknowledge that large families are essential to Europe’s demographic and economic stability. Integrating a family-friendly approach into vocational education and training would help the European Union reinforce its social cohesion and human capital.