The first European Day for Parents and Schools will be celebrated in all the countries of the EU, as well as in Cyprus, Malta, Liechtenstein, Norway and Slovakia on 8 October. “Parents, teachers, headmasters and pupils are invited to get to know each other better and strengthen their cooperation through workshops, cultural events, seminars, lessons in class, etc.”, explains Dominique Bariller, president of EPA, an umbrella organization representing the majority of national parents’ associations in Europe (52 associations in 22 countries). The “European Report on the quality of school education” of May 2000 confirms in fact that a more active involvement of parents in schools is essential for the educational process: “From this aspect says the Report derives the importance of officially reinforcing and affirming the need for closer cooperation” between parents and teachers, including the introduction of a European Day. The official launch of the Day will take place on 8 October with a ceremony video-transmitted by the European Parliament in Brussels (from 10 to 12 am).
