Distance education in primary school and kindergarten – All we need to know

The clarifications are made by Ministry of Education about him new way of managing primary schools and kindergartens, which will work from tomorrow, Monday and for two weeks distance learning, in the context of government meters to stop the exponential dispersion of young people coronavirus in the country.

In particular, the Ministry of Education provides 12 questions and answers on how to implement distance education.

1. What will be applied to schools from Monday?

From Monday, November 16 and for two weeks, the live activity of nursery schools and primary schools throughout the country is suspended. Please note that the gyms and high schools in the country are already closed, even for another 2 weeks. Special education schools of all levels will remain open.

2. Why is it now necessary to close primary schools, kindergartens and crèches?

The panel of experts had determined that schools would be the last to close if necessary, and their previous proposal to close elementary and nursery schools was negative. This is because there has been no trend for the virus to spread within the school community.

The announced measures are therefore not indicated by the epidemiological burden on schools. These are purely precautionary measures, linked to the outbreak of the pandemic in society in general and aimed at reducing the mobility of adults. As long as schools are closed, there is indeed a very large reduction in wider mobility. The student and teacher population reaches 1.6 million people, and if you add a parent / guardian for each primary school child but also support staff, etc., the mobile population exceeds 2.3 million. So the reason for the decision is mobility – because the virus feeds itself through it – and the goal is to limit it. Data from recent days shows that –after the block, mobility decreased, but not to satisfactory levels. So it is not a question of excessive transmission in schools, but of high mobility to and from schools. And mobility, according to experts, must be reduced.

3. How will distance education work in primary schools?
   Primary education will function at a distance in two interlinked ways: with educational television and modern e-learning.

–Educational TV: From Monday morning at 9 in the morning.. -first day of implementation of the measures- ERT2 television broadcasts will begin, lessons for primary school students. The program for Monday and Tuesday is as follows:

Monday 16th November

Tuesday 17th November

–Modern distance learning: From Monday, the school administrations, in collaboration with the teachers, will prepare a modern remote training program and will carry out the necessary tests. Distance training will begin on Wednesday, after the school holidays of November 17th. It will be compulsory, each hour of lessons will last 30 ‘and will take place from 2 to 5 pm for elementary school, and from 2 to 4:20 pm for nursery schools, including short breaks.

Detailed instructions were sent to all kindergartens and primary schools in the country. The school principal and teachers will inform students and their parents about connection details in digital classrooms.

4. What is the modern distance education program?

5. Why did the lunch-afternoon program for Primary and Kindergarten students take precedence over breakfast?

For the following main reasons:

• To facilitate families in relation to the number of devices needed for internet connection, especially if in the family there are parents who work in teleworking and older children from high school / high school who do distance learning in the morning.
• To facilitate families whose parents can be telecommuting in the morning and at the same time have to help their young children connect to digital classrooms.
• Restrict the simultaneous use of the country’s networks by employees, pupils, students and so on.

6. Why is the modern distance education solution favored?

Nothing can replace lifelong teaching in physical class, at school. But as long as unprecedented health conditions force us to suspend the operation of schools, it is extremely important for the student to be able to see their teacher, even online. Stay in touch with him as much as possible.

7. Will the material proceed normally through distance learning?

Yes, the material should proceed normally. We must not let the pandemic hinder our children’s learning progress. This is also the case with all gyms and high schools in the country that have been practicing distance learning for 1 week. More than 40,000 online departments operate at the same time every day, 700,000 students and teachers have adapted to these new conditions, and the program is running smoothly.

8. If a student doesn’t have a device or internet connection to connect, what can they do?

• Since March, the Ministry has been systematically sending technological equipment to schools, through huge European funds and donations it has obtained. This equipment can be made available, at the Dean’s decision, to students who need it most (based on criteria, including low income, parental unemployment, single parent, large, three-child or orphan family membership).
• The Ministry of Education has guaranteed the free use of data to anyone who connects to the platforms with which the Ministry collaborates for distance learning.
• Even if you do not have an Internet connection, even if you do not have a computer, tablet, smartphone, you can connect to the digital classroom and by phone, with charge on the spot.

9. How will the student know how to connect to their digital class?

Detailed instructions were sent to all kindergartens and primary schools in the country. The school principal and teachers inform students and their parents / guardians about the details of connecting to the digital classrooms.

10. I am a teacher and would like more information and support for preparing digital lessons.

• The Institute of Educational Policy has prepared a guide for the educational planning of distance courses http://iep.edu.gr/el/component/k2/1067-odigos-gia-ton-ekpaideftiko-sxediasmo-mathimaton-eks- apostaseos, in which it outlines the basic principles to be followed for the most efficient implementation of distance learning and is available to all.
• There are Open Online Courses (MOOCS) for the rapid training of primary and secondary school teachers in the methodology of distance school education. You can participate in two related training programs (MOOCS):
  • from the Institute of Educational Policy (IEP) in collaboration with the Hellenic Open University (EAP): https://learn.eap.gr/
  • from the Institute of Educational Policy (IEP) in collaboration with the University of the Aegean: https://elearn.aegean.gr
• In addition, a rapid training program in distance education has been launched for all teachers of all levels and specialties, which are part of the strategic training framework (with a budget of € 2 million through NSRF).
• All information on distance education is collected here: https://mathainoumeasfaleis.gov.gr. (It should be noted that the website of the Panhellenic School Network to which the specific reference also refers place is today – Sunday 11/15 – being updated.)
• For any further information you can contact the service center (Help Desk) of the Panhellenic School Network, here: https://www.sch.gr/helpdesk/
• Also, you can contact the Educational Project Coordinators, who have the pedagogical responsibility of your schools and who are properly trained to guide you.

11. What is provided for the working parents of an elementary or kindergarten student?

As in the previous wave of pandemic, special authorizations are provided for one of the two parents, both in the public and private sectors, whose regulation is still applied today in cases of suspension of departments or schools due to coronavirus. In addition, the planning of modern distance education of primary and secondary education in different areas (morning – afternoon) is intended and to facilitate families with working parents and children of different ages.

12. What can a parent do if their child has left books and other personal items at school?

Exceptionally, on Monday 16 November, parents and guardians will be able to receive books and personal items of students who may have remained in the school units, after consultation with the school authorities and in order to fully comply with the measures to prevent and avoid overcrowding. For this move, those who receive the items from the school should send a message with the number 4 to 13033.