Children have the right to culture at school
Children and young people in the entire Nordic Region will now have cultural and creative subjects at school. At least if it is up to the Nordic Council, which is calling for the ministers of culture and education to sign a Nordic declaration on the rights of children to cultural expression, The proposal from the Nordic Council Culture and Education Committee has received political support from all five countries.
"International research shows that it is far too narrow-minded to focus on traditional academic subjects and methods of teaching alone", says Mogens Jensen, Chairman of the Nordic Council Culture and Education Committee.
- Photographer
- Magnus Fröderberg/norden.org
Cultural schools in all Nordic communities, professional artists behind the teacher’s desk and more creative subjects. These may be the consequences of a brand new initiative which will secure the rights of children to creative development at school. The rights will be written into a new joint Nordic declaration and will complement the UN's Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has its 20th anniversary this year.
"All studies show that children's opportunity for success in school is closely linked to cultural classes. Those countries which rank highest in educational studies place a high priority on creative subjects. In order to cope with the demands of the future, it is crucial that children have the right to express themselves creatively", says Monica Green from the Nordic Council's Culture and Education Committee.
The Chairman of the Committee, Mogens Jensen emphasises that this political initiative will safeguard both the individual child's creative expression in school and the development of the countries' educational standards:
The committee refers to Norway, that with its cultural schools, may be a pioneer of creativity in schools for the rest of the region. Therefore, the MPs are also calling for a joint Nordic long-term political approach on both the cultural and educational policy front.
Outside the Nordic Region there is focus both politically and professionally on linking creativity with education. Amongst other things, the OECD has opened up the possibility of introducing a creative PISA and thus involving musical-aesthetic subjects in PISA tests.
The Culture and Education Committee's proposal is being discussed at the Nordic Council's Session in Stockholm this week. The Council is also organising a cultural event on the subject in Kulturhuset in Stockholm on 26 October from 15 - 17.
Contacts
Anne-Mette Persdotter
Phone
+45 33 96 04 50
Email
amp@norden.org
Mogens Jensen, Chairman of the Nordic Council Culture and Education Committee Tel: +45 61 62 42 39
Monica Green, Member of the Nordic Council Culture and Education Committee Tel: +46705304210
