[ie-announce] ICT classes to be eliminated from upper secondary education in Greece

[Fotini T]

Subject: ICT classes to be
eliminated from upper secondary education in Greece
 
Dear sirs/madams,


The Greek Ministry of Education has announced the
reforms and changes in Greek education through the new law that was signed on
Thursday 29/8/2013. TheMinistry is eliminating ICT classes from general
upper secondary curriculum in Greek schools, changes it radically during the years of college and
downgrades it in the technical training.Computer scienceis notequallyjust like Maths, physics or  biology.
Teachers of Informatics have been trying the whole
time to prove the necessity and use of our science in the Secondary education
and more specifically in upper Secondary Education (Lyceum). Every time we have
to prove that our science plays a determinant role towards the very much wanted
growth and development that our country needs desperately.
Unfortunately, the Ministry of Education does not
share the same opinion. They don’t consider Computer Science as necessary in
the education of students. They don’t realize that the ‘digital’ education has
a leading role in the development of a country nowadays. 
The statistical research carried by the Greek
Observatory shows that our country is ranked 5th from the end in the
list of digital and networking education, nevertheless the Ministry insists on
its’ initial decision.
We hope that you can feel and realize our anger,
despair and will to defend our Science, equal opportunities to new technologies
training for all and even more financially weaker pupils and employment
prospects of future generations. We appreciate and recognize the works and
services you provide and more specifically the universal recognition of the
Computer Science in Education.
We call upon your sensitivity towards this matter so
that you could interfere and help us in this “educational crime” that is being
committed in a low rate development and financially poor country. 
The final bill will be submitted to Parliament on 7
September. We kindly request of you  to
take regard of the points put forward in this letter and support our case with
the Greek Ministry of Education. As we have received no valid answers from the
people planning these supposedly innovative changes, we are counting on
European education institutions to press for such answers. In particular, we
would really appreciate an explanation for the following: 
What
is the rationale behind eliminating constructive IT classes such as
“Application Development in a Programming Environment” from upper secondary
school curricula, especially when the changes are supposedly being introduced
as “innovations” in the name of the NEW Lyceum
Based on
the above you are asked to support the cause organized by the Hellenic Association of Computer
Science (PEKAP):
	1. Put pressure at the Greek government and the Ministry of Education to ensure and upgrade the IT as a separate course at the New School, which aims at developing algorithmic thinking that is necessary in all subjects, not only in science. 
 
	1. It iscrucial to emphasize that it is a necessity to teach algorithmic in last grade of the upper high school  (Lykeum), treated equally just like Maths, physics or  biology and be a part of the entrance test to university.
 
	1. Argue to the political leadership of the Ministry of Education to upgrade the course of IT and high school, and not to condemn our young students to digital illiteracy. 
 
Thank you very much for your
time. I am naturally at your disposal for any other information/input you may
need. 
 
 
Kind regards, Yours sincerely,
Tsiavalia Fotini
Member of Hellenic Association of Computer
Science Teaches (P.E.KA.P)
“P.E.KA.P”
(Hellenic Association of Computer Science Teaches) for providing ideas and
input for this memo (see “PEKAP” Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/210307492345/)
 
P.S. Please find attached some further
information  
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