” “Freedom of teaching is guaranteed in all European countries, but the forms of funding non-state schools are various” “
In Europe, as in the world, freedom of teaching (understood as a principle embracing the three rights to teach, to learn and to choose one’s own educator) is defined by the international conventions for the protection of human rights, such as article 13, paragraphs 3 & 4 of the UN Pact on economic, social and cultural rights. As far as the European Union is concerned, undoubtedly the most important instrument is the “Resolution on freedom of teaching in the European Community”, adopted by the European Parliament in 1984. In conformity with paragraph 9 of the Resolution, “the right to freedom of teaching implies the obligation by member states to permit, also on the financial level, the practical exercise of this right and to grant to schools the necessary public funding for the exercise of their mission and the fulfilment of their obligations in conditions of parity with public schools”. Below we give a brief overview of the situation of non-state schools and various forms of funding in various EU countries. · Countries of Europe “enlarged to 28” in which the legal right exists to establish and manage non-state schools: all. · Countries of Europe “enlarged to 28” where provision is made for religious and moral education in state schools in relation to the various religions and convictions (obligatory or optional): all, with the exception of France, Greece and the UK. · Public funding of non-state schools on conditions of parity with public schools and how such funds may be used: Germany, Luxembourg, Czech Republic and Slovakia (for day-to-day running costs), Austria (funding only for teachers’ salaries), Belgium and Holland (total parity); Bulgaria (school allowance per pupil); Denmark (up to 85% of the day-to-day running costs); France and Spain (up to 100% of day-to-day running costs, but family contributions also prescribed); Finland (both the State and the local authorities fund day-to-day running costs up to a maximum of 50%); Greece and Turkey (with very rare exceptions, non-state schools receive no state funding at all); Hungary (minimum funding only for religious schools); I reland (all primary schools and 70% of secondary schools are “parish”, and hence non-state, in nature; non-state secondary schools receive funding for up to 90% of their day-to-day running costs as well as an allowance for each student); Italy (aid to non-state schools is very rare and justified by “educational and social needs not satisfied by the State”; systems of student grants exist in some Regions; various bills for parity between public and private schools are still being examined by Parliament); Poland (State and local authorities fund day-to-day running costs up to a maximum of 50%; a contribution by families for private schools is prescribed); Portugal (minimum subsidy of 50%); Romania (no funding for non-state schools); United Kingdom (contributions up to 85% of day-to-day running costs for so-called “grant-maintained” schools; no funding but provision of a system of scholarships for “independent” schools); Sweden (a system of school grants covering up to 90% of costs is in force); Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (systems of schools grants that cover all day-to-day running costs as well as equipment costs).
