NCB Now: Rural learning debate for Scotland

In a recent Children in Europe article entitled A Sense of Place: Environments, Community and Services for Young Children, Androulla Vassiliou, the European commissioner for education, culture, multilingualism and youth, discussed the importance of strengthened co-operation between the European Commission and EU member states in improving access, particularly for children in rural areas, to early childhood education and care services - one of the key areas identified for improvement within the strategic European Framework.

In her article, Vassiliou discusses providing support for activities linked with vocational training, including e-learning, which can create a supportive environment for learning even if the child is in a remote rural area, and emphasises that education services in rural areas can be developed by those who work in the area, including farmers, NGOs and local industries.