The role of education in Europe 2020 Strategy: a critical approach

Abstract

The Europe 2020 Strategy is a document approved by the European Commission to redefine their objectives of growth and establish political strategies to solve the current economic crisis. The objective of the present paper is to analyze, in a critical and systematic way, the ideological approach that has this policy proposal in the field of education. Specifically, our aim is to analyze the role of education within a neoliberal economic model proposed by the European Union. To achieve this goal, we have conducted a qualitative content analysis, where contrasted the policy proposals and their consequences. The results show that the Europe 2020 Strategy prioritizes the demands of the market economy and employment, relegated to a second level education. Before the current economic crisis in Europe, we are struggling with the importance of education as a mechanism for transformation of the social and cultural reality.