In an increasingly complex world in which more or less radical changes take place at all levels of social life, we believe that we need to re-think education. The sustainability of the objectives and content of education have to be put to the test; teachers’ roles, the teaching process and school as a learning organization must be reconsidered.

In April 2014, a Manifesto: ‘Education for Change – Change for Education’ that calls for an important change of mind-sets, of policies and practices by 200 teachers present at a conference organized by the Council of Europe*. As L2C strives to carry on the message of the Manifesto, we – the members – stress the importance of education for preparing our youth and adults for a life as democratic citizens in diverse democratic societies, for their future in a global workforce and for the development of their personality. We focus on the implications this has for the image and ethos of the teaching profession and other educators.  We act to support the development of the values and competences that all educators need in their day-to-day practices to answer the challenges that lie ahead.

*The manifesto was authored by representatives of the Community of Practice of the Pestalozzi Programme of the Council of Europe and the working group “Teachers’ Profession in the 21st Century” of the Education and Culture Committee of the Conference of International Non-governmental Organisations of the Council of Europe.