The Greek Ministry of Education supports Ukraine and the Ukrainian educational community. To do this, the integration and inclusion of Ukrainian children in the Greek educational system has been ensured, as a significant number of citizens are being forced to evacuate from regions of active hostilities.
As of March 26, 2022, about 4,400 underage Ukrainians arrived in Greece, of which more than 150 are already studying in Greek schools. Admission classes have been set up for children – 15 hours a week pupils attend classes with specialized support, and during the rest of the school hours they have regular classes, mainly those subjects where verbal communication is not a priority (art, music, physical education, IT).
Necessary materials are submitted in Ukrainian (in cooperation with UNICEF), mutual interest is caused by:
- questions and answers about the Greek education system and a list of coordination points;
- instructions on COVID-19 protocols in schools;
- a dictionary with words/phrases commonly used in school.
Teacher training is also organized in cooperation with UNICEF. A teacher's manual for the admission of Ukrainian students has been developed and 400-hour training in intercultural education for teachers has been extended.
In addition, students are provided with psychological and emotional support from mental health experts at UNICEF centers.
At the suggestion of Minister Niki Kerameus, a digital platform is also being created for a transparent and efficient response to supply and demand, which will record the needs of the Ukrainian educational community in educational equipment and logistical expertise. The platform will also create a delivery mechanism to meet these needs with the participation of Member States, the business sector, civil society representatives, international organizations and stakeholders with relevant experience and resources.
Earlier, the Steering Committee for Education of the Council of Europe supported Ukraine.
