By Evie Andreou
Teachers unions on Tuesday expressed their overall satisfaction with education reform proposals put forward by Education Minister Costas Kadis.
Kadis introduced on Monday proposals prepared by an especially appointed committee.
The first proposal is the reconfiguration of the syllabus and timetables, which abolishes the unified education system in lyceums, introduced in 2000, and is expected to be implemented as of September 2015.
According to the second proposal, language and math teaching hours will be increased in primary schools and an extra period will be added aiming to help children with learning disabilities.
The third proposal says in gymnasiums, weekly teaching hours will be reduced by two and afternoon foreign language classes will be introduced, while in lyceums, six programmes of studies will be introduced, for students to follow according to their future career paths.
“With this proposal, we try to correct the distortions of the current system, especially in secondary education. Specifically, we will reconfigure lyceums through the formation of elective courses,” Kadis said.
He added that the goal was the introduction of elective courses in modern scientific fields, which will help students acquire the necessary foundations for tertiary education.
A new education appointment system has also been proposed, according to which the waiting lists for teacher appointments will be abolished by 2018 – list seniority will no longer matter and successful candidates will be chosen according to teaching experience and qualifications.
Kadis said that the majority of substitute teachers are to be appointed within the next three years and after that, educators will be hired based on merit with exams.
A proposal covering teacher training is included because the ministry “gives great importance to the quality of educators, serving today at schools,” Kadis said.
He added that these proposals will change the image of public schools, will answer to the demands of society and give answers to long standing problems.
The head of OELMEK teachers’ union, Demetris Taliadoros, said that the lyceum unified education system should have been abolished a long time ago and that it is about time for the school system to prepare students for tertiary education without parents having to spend huge amounts of money on private afternoon classes.
POED and OLETK unions said that they needed to discuss some issues with the ministry.
The unions were asked to discus the proposals and are to express their concerns and submit suggestions to the minister in about two weeks.
Student body PSEM has also asked to meet with Kadis to discuss the proposed reforms.
