RESOLUTION of the Council and the Ministers for Education, meeting within the Council of 9 June 1986 on consumer education in primary and secondary schools

THE COUNCIL AND THE MINISTERS FOR EDUCATION, MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to the draft resolution submitted by the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the Europea n Parliament [1]

[1] Opinion deliveder on 18 April 1986 (not yet published in the Official Journal)

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic ans social Committee [2]

[2] OJ No C 101, 28.4.1986, p. 14.

Whereas the preliminary programme of the European Economic Community for a consumer protection and information policy, adopted on 14 April 1975 [3], includes the right to information and education among the five basic rights of consumers; whereas that programme and the programme adopted on 19 March 1981 [4] establish the principles and specify the priority measures to be taken at Community level, particularly with regard to consumer education at school;

[3] OJ No C 92, 25.4.1975, p. 1.

[4] OJ No C 133, 3.6.1981, p. 1.

Whereas the preliminary programme specified that one of the aims of such education should be to enable consumers to act in a discrimination manner and be capable of making an informed choice of goods and services and conscious of their rights and responsabilities;

Whereas that aim is also in line with the concerns expressed by the resolution of the Council and of the Ministers for Education, meeting within the Council, of 13 December 1976 concerning measures to be taken to improve the preparation of young people for work and to facilitate their transition from education to working life [5]

[5] [OJ No C 308, 30.12.1976, p. 1.

Whereas in order to achieve that aim, it will be necessary to include consumer education in the syllabus at primary and secondary level, as appropriate, covering individual and collective aspects of consumers affairs;

Whereas studies and experiments relating to consumer education at school carried out in the Member States, particulary those carried out with the assistance of the Commission, have shown that it is possible to introduce this area of study into primary and secondary education in accordance with appropriate procedures;

Whereas, in view of the diversity of national and regional education systemes in the Member States in regard to curricula, types of education or the duration of compulsory schooling, as well as differences in economic, legal and social structures within the Community, it would be impossible to devise a detailed Community curriculum for consumer education;

Whereas, however, work carried out at Community level has confirmed the existence of similar problems and concerns, justifying the adoption of common principles;

Whereas experiments carried out in the Member States have highlighted the need for teachers to receive appropriate training; whereas that may be given to them during their initial or in-service training; whereas both consumer protection programmes envisage Community action in this regard involving a broad exchange of views on national experiments, particulary between training centres in the Members States;

Whereas experiments in the Member States have also show that teachers will need teaching material facilitating and speficic approach to consumer education; whereas Community action would facilitate the translation, adaptation and publication of documents and teaching material;

HEREBY ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION:

I. Measures to be taken at Member States level

The competent authorities in the Member States are hereby invited to promote, within the bounds of what is constitutionnally possible and in the framework of national legislation and regulations, consumer education in school curricula, at primary and secondary level, as appropriate, so that consumer education is provided during the period of compulsory education.

Consumer education in school curricula does not normally require treatment as a separate subject, it is desirable that it be set in the context of teaching about those aspects of contempory society which affect the rights and responsibilities of consumers, such as:

- the operation of market forces,

- the role of consumers in the economy,

- an awareness of environmental questions,

- attitudes to advertising

- attitudes to the mass media

- the use of leisure time.

Such teaching might have regard to the five basic rights established by the preliminary programme for consumer protection and information policy:

- the right to protection of health and safety (particularly concerning nutrition and the avoidance of health hazards associated with the use of consumer products),

- the right to protection of economic interests (particularly with the regard to rights and obligations deriving from the signing of contracts, the comparison of prices and qualities of products and services),

- the right of redress (including methods of settling claims)

- the right of information and education (including information supplied by producers and providers of services in addition to that supplied by the public authorities on the laws, regulations and administrative provisions currently in force),

- the right of representation (including consultation and representation facilities offered by consumer associations, as well as their structure and mode of operation).

The details of this teaching approach will depend on the age of pupils concerned, their level of maturity and social and economic background. Where possible, it should be illustrated by practical and specific examples, with suggested objectives for consumer behaviour.

The competent authorities in the Member States are hereby invited to promote:

- consumer education in the initial training of teachers and further training of those already in service;

- the development of appropriate teaching material.

The Commission is hereby invited to report back to them by 31 December 1988 on relevant policies and practices introduced in the Member States.

II. Measures to be taken at Community level

The Council and the Ministers for Education, meeting within the Council take note of the intention of the Commission, in the framework of the second programme of the European Economic Community for a consumer protection and information policy and within the limits of its financial means:

1. to facilitate a wide-ranging exchange of views on previous and current experiments at Community level, so as to take account of new needs revealed by the introduction of consumer education in primary and secondary schools with respect to teacher training and teaching material;

2. to organize during the next three years, in close collaboration with relevant national authorities, pilot training schemes for teachers and the preparation of appropriate training material;

3. to encourage the including of consumer affairs questions in higher education.

The Commission is hereby invited to make a report on the pilot training schemes by 31 December 1988 at the latest.