10 th epal thessalonikicomenius1 counselling and vocational guidance in greece

10th EPAL Thessaloniki Comenius 1

COUNSELLING AND VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE IN GREECE


Career & Counselling Centres (KE.SY.P):

The Career & Counselling Centres were established by force of Law 2525/97 and organized by the Ministry of Education in cooperation with the department of (School) Vocational & Career Guidance (SEP) of the Pedagogical Institute

Currently the operation of two KE.SY.P Centres is of particular orientation:

the KE.SY.P of the Ministry of Education was established to provide coordination and administrative support to the network of KE.SY.P Centres and SEP Offices around the country

the KE.SY.P of the Pedagogical Institute (P.I.) was established to provide expert support to the network of KE.SY.P and SEP Offices in Greece

VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE


Career & Counselling Centres (KE.SY.P):

KE.SY.P Centres operate at the seats of all prefectures of the country. In total, there are 68 KE.SY.P Centres in Greece.

Their task is to provide education and vocational guidance services and information to young people up to 25 years of age and to their parents.

In addition, these Centres also support School Career Counsellors who implement the relevant institution of Counselling either on an individual or group basis.

These Centres are staffed by one or more experts responsible for Vocational Guidance and one expert in Information and Documentation.

The Centres feature libraries with information material pertinent to Vocational Guidance.

VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE


School Career Counselling Offices (GRA.SE.P):

These Offices were established by the Ministry of Education and housed in 200 major or jointly-housed schools.

Their task is to support the implementation of Vocational Guidance in schools, as well as provide counselling and information to students and their parents.

The staff of the School Career Counselling Offices comprises trained Guidance practitioners.

In addition, these Offices are furnished with library materials on the field of their competence.

VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE


Implementation of the Vocational Guidance Institution in the Classroom:

The institution of Vocational Guidance has been incorporated to national education in the sense that is an additional item in the curriculum involving specific activities for which the students are not marked. Specifically, Vocational Guidance is “taught” at: High-school level (Grade C’: 1 hour per week) and Unified Lyceum (Grade A’: 1 hour per week, 2nd semester).

Again, the supervising entities are the Ministry of Education and the Pedagogical Institute.

VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE



The textbooks and teachers’ books for students and instructors respectively are the following:1. “Preparing for life”, student’s textbook for Grade C’, High-school2. “Preparing for life”, teacher’s book for Grade C’, High-school3. “Planning my future”, student’s textbook for Grade A’, Unified Lyceum4. “Planning my future”, teacher’s book for Grade A’, Unified Lyceum5. “Education after High-school”, student’s School Guide, Grade C’ High-school6. “Education after Lyceum”, School Guide for student in Unified Lyceum and TEE7. “Education & Employment”, a book analyzing the prospects for numerous vocations / professions.

VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE



In the context of Vocational Guidance, teachers ran numerous Career Education programmes at the secondary level of education during the academic period 2000-2001. During the same period, Career Day events were adopted to enhance Career Guidance at schools.

Career EducationThis is to support the institution of Vocational Guidance in education by expanding its application at a local, regional and national level. The thematic content of Career Education programmes includes issues relating to the work environment, local economic activity, labour relations and occupational sectors, the European dimension of education-employment and the development of skills.

VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE


Office of the Pedagogical Institute for People with Special Needs:

In 1998 the Pedagogical Institute set up a SEP Office with the aim to provide Counselling and Vocational Guidance services to people with special needs and others threatened by social exclusion.

This Office provides information about vocational training and rehabilitation for the targeted individuals.

Additional aims include support to School Career Counsellors, cooperation with agencies / organizations operating in Greece and abroad for the benefit of such vulnerable groups, as well as with representatives from the sector of production and with prospective employers.

VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE


Career Services Offices for Universities & Technological Educational Institutes :

These Offices provide pivotal Counselling & Vocational Guidance services to graduates of Universities and Technological Educational Institutes (TEI).

Their support consists of actions aiming to facilitate the smooth entry of graduates into the labour market.

At the same time they provide Vocational Guidance services, career counselling and information about postgraduate studies, training courses, scholarships and knowledge about employee / professional rights.

In addition, the Career Services Offices mediate the students’ placement (practical training) where warranted and organize Career Day events.

VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE


The Ministry of Labour, through Greek Manpower Employment Organization (O.A.E.D) offers various training courses: Vocational education (apprenticeship) Continuous training and On- the-job training for employed workers

A fraction (10%) of all training positions is reserved for the disables

The Ministry of Health and Welfare and local or regional authorities have started designing and implementing training programs, utilizing to a large extent EU resources.

SPECIAL CENTRES OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING


At 1997 the Greek National Centre of Vocational Orientation (EKEP) was founded as a competent institution for the coordination, support,certification, provision of quality information and consolidation of those offeringCounselling and Vocational Guidance services in Greece at the sectorsEducation, training and employment.

Source: CEDEFOP

COORDINATION OF VOCATIONAL COUNSELLING -TRAINING


EVALUATION

According to the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs and theMinistry of Economy and Finance, both vocational training other active employment policies have not been adequately developed in Greece. This is mainly due to the fact that these policies are relatively new for Greek reality and were developed thanks to resources of the EU and not as a result of their demand by the national labour market. Since the European Employment Strategy was established, there has been some progress in the design and the provision of such policies.Progress also has been made in the number of unemployed benefited by such active Policies. Improvements have been made in the design and implementation of suchPolicies, according to real needs and to respond more efficiently to the problems of the labour market. Despite the improvements made, what should always be stressed is that in order to face weaknesses, action should be taken aiming at the constant promotion and improvement of education and initial vocational training in the framework of a strategyfor lifelong learning.


SOME USEFUL WEBSITES

http://www.ekep.gr/ http://195.251.20.34/ http://www.oaed.gr/Pages/SN_26.pg http://career-office.uoa.gr/node/view/229?

GDPORTALID=c86ec279a1eed0c51de4a7078b35b1a8

http://www.prosanatolismos.org/ http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/p!eLaXi

10 th epal thessalonikicomenius1 counselling and vocational guidance in greece

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