The role of education in times of crisis: A critical analysis of the Europe 2020 Strategy

The current economic crisis in Europe is accentuating social inequalities and promoting situations involving social injustice. The European Union has chosen to redefine its goals and realize growth, as outlined in the document known as Europe 2020 Strategy. This paper critically analyzes the economic and social values underlying this document, with special attention to the role played by education in the current crisis. The results indicate that the educational objectives of Europe 2020 Strategy are grounded in neoliberal values and, consequently, increase social injustice. We advocate the importance of education as a means of transforming social and cultural reality.