WRITTEN QUESTION E-3677/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(17 January 2002)

Subject: Technical high schools

A recent announcement by the Greek Federation of Secondary School Teachers states that technical high schools are suffering a severe shortage of books, laboratories, specialist teachers and training for teachers in the new technologies. The problems caused by these failings are resulting in falling numbers of students at technical high schools, with those who drop out of education suffering social exclusion since, for those young people, the high schools represent their only chance of acquiring skills and vocational qualifications. The law under which the technical high schools were set up states that their aim is to integrate young people into the employment market. In Greece, the youth unemployment and school drop-out rates are among the highest in the Union.

In the light of the Council's recommendation concerning the implementation of the Member States' employment policies, which stressed that the education systems in Greece needed further improvement, is the Commission aware of the existence of any Greek Government programmes to tackle these problems? Were any measures incorporated in the first operational programme for education and initial training under the 2nd Community Support Framework? What is the Commission's assessment of their effectiveness? What measures have been planned under the 2nd operational programme for education and initial training?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(21 February 2002)

During the negotiations with the Greek authorities on the 3rd Community support framework (CSF) 2000-2006, the Commission attached particular importance to the problems of shortages of books, workshops, teachers or other shortcomings in the workings of technical high schools (TEEs) in Greece. The Ministry of Education, which is the national authority in Greece responsible for initial vocational training, is aware of these difficulties.

According to information from this ministry, the number of students registered with TEEs in the academic year 2001-2002 has increased by almost 7 % on the previous year. In addition, the number of TEE students is gradually approaching the number attending integrated high schools. This trend shows that there is an increasing demand for this type of education, and that considerably more effort should be devoted to improving its quality.

During the 2nd CSF 1994-1999 for Greece, measures benefiting TEEs were implemented which involved the introduction of new curricula, the provision of books, training for teachers and courses in the fields of health and the environment.

In the 3rd CSF 2000-2006 for Greece, and as part of the operational programme (OP) Education and Initial Vocational Training priority 2 Promotion and improvement of education and vocational training in the context of lifelong learning, action 2.3.2 Development of TEEs and Education Laboratories includes measures:

- for setting up and implementing arrangements linking the business sector and the jobs market;

- for improving curricula and introducing innovative teaching methods and tools better suited to new needs;

- for pilot projects for improving the quality of education after evaluation;

- whereby greater importance is attached to improving organisation and evaluation.

Furthermore, the same programme's other priorities provide for a whole series of measures to tackle the problem of people dropping out of school, and to help ensure that this institution functions effectively.

The sum allotted for these measures is approximately 500 million, which shows the level of determination of the national authorities in this field.

The defects and shortcomings referred to by the Honourable Member may be due to the time devoted to setting up the authorities responsible for running the programmes, as provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds(1). Even though the implementation of the projects and measures has been delayed for this reason, the authority responsible for the OP mentioned above has indicated that the selection of the projects concerned, and their implementation, is due to begin before the end of 2002, which will thus help towards solving these problems.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.