Members of the Parliamentary Education Committee reported gaps and ambiguities in the regulations for the new evaluation system for educators under the Public Educational Service law. The article-by-article discussion began on Wednesday.
The discussion focused on introducing the position of senior educator and on the promotion process from Assistant Director to Senior Educator.
Committee Chairman Pavlos Mylonas stated that they must complete the article-by-article discussion by next Wednesday. If necessary, an extraordinary session will aim to finalise it before the year’s last plenary session.
Discussion on mentor roles
During the discussion, DISY MP Giorgos Karoullas proposed removing the provision for a senior educator. He argued that it would complicate the school hierarchy further.
DIKO MP Chrysanthos Savvides noted that the mentor system works in universities and plays a crucial role in supporting new educators in schools. He insisted that the duties of this role must be clearly defined.
DIPA MP Alekos Tryfonidis expressed the need for the senior educator position but insisted that their duties and responsibilities be clearly established since it is a new role.
The Director General of the Ministry of Education, Giorgos Pantelis, stated they cannot accept Mr Karoullas’ proposal. It concerns educators who wish to remain in educational roles without taking on administrative positions. These educators can assume a mentoring role for younger educators.
He noted that they have a description of the senior educator’s duties, which will be specified in the service plan.
He added that it would not be appropriate to deprive senior educators of their right to promotions. They will receive this right under stricter conditions. Specifically, they must complete ten years of service and training before expressing interest in promotion to managerial positions.
As mentioned during the Committee, individuals already in administrative positions must complete the training programme before seeking promotion from Assistant Director to the next level.
Comments from the Minister of Education
Minister of Education Athena Michaeildou attended the discussion online. She responded to MPs’ questions about the appointment process for the 500 senior educators and the promotion process. She clarified that for all service plans, criteria and weightings have been provided from the outset to educational organisations as indicative. They had agreed to conclude these matters in the Monitoring Committee.
She mentioned that the senior educator position exists in almost all European countries. It serves as “the reward for a good educator to remain in the classroom teaching,” noting that “not everyone is suited to be a director, resulting in experiences we have in our schools today.” “Therefore, I cannot force someone to become a director or an assistant. I need to offer them an alternative,” she added.
She stated that this position is a promotion and that it typically receives the same scale as that of an Assistant Director. Interested individuals will be able to apply when these positions are advertised.
The Minister further stated that they decided the senior educator must have some room for promotion and that criteria exist for them to be eligible after ten years and following their training.
Training requirements at the heart of the dispute
Mr Tryfonidis asked, “Why does the Ministry contradict itself?” He said the senior educator role should not mix with administrative roles.
Committee Chairman Pavlos Mylonas expressed his disagreement regarding continuous training for educators. “We sent everyone to do postgraduate studies; this shouldn’t happen. Sending them for training instead of keeping them in classrooms distorts their purpose,” he said.
In response to reactions about the training issue, the Minister said that mandatory training only occurs twice in an educator’s career. The first instance applies only to secondary education teachers who lack pedagogical training, with pre-service training before or during their appointment. “We are introducing a short programme for newcomers to explain the procedures within the profession,” the Minister said. They receive reduction hours and will remain in school.
The second instance occurs when educators become Assistant Directors or Directors and undergo training while in schools.
She explained that if a senior educator, “whom we respect, wants to stay in the classroom as a good educator, they should not take on Assistant Director roles or endure administrative duties. They should have a mentoring role and support the school’s professional learning programme. If they wish to transition to administration later, they must not face penalties. However, to do so, they must complete some management courses before becoming a school director.”
When asked by Mr Mylonas why other educators do not follow this path, the Minister replied that others also complete mandatory training once they receive promotions. Since others chose not to remain in the classroom while senior educators will stay for years, it does not make sense for them to suddenly enter administration, she said.
“If there is disagreement here, it is not significant for us. We can find common ground,” the Minister stated.
Statements
After the session, Mr Mylonas stated that over the previous three days, “from morning until night,” a delegation from the Committee had continuous contacts and meetings with educational organisations, including the Secondary School Principals Association, the Primary School Principals Association, and the Secondary and Primary School Inspectors Associations.
“We recorded all opinions in writing, and the Committee and MPs will take responsibility with amendments, majorities, minorities, or consensus. Hopefully, we will reach a new bill, which certainly will not match the one submitted,” he said.
When asked by a journalist about the senior educator issue, he stated it conflicts with “the right to legally claim any position I desire.” “Theoretically, we support it or will support it; we will see the senior educator, because the good educator will stay in the classroom,” said Mr Mylonas. He noted that, on the other hand, “you cannot deprive them of the right to compete for the director position after ten years.” It is offered to them under certain conditions, but, he said, “there is a disagreement between us.”
When asked if he agrees with the position expressed about gaps and ambiguities, he said, “Absolutely.” He referred to a bill, “which has some pages, and the rest are blank spaces to be filled in the future.”
He stated they would decide but not unconditionally to avoid dissatisfaction among some. “That is why I call on my colleagues to rise to the occasion and not to think of educational organisations, political party clientele, leaderships. Let our parliamentary groups decide to reject or support the points they wish,” said Mr Mylonas.
Mr Karoullas stated in his remarks that DISY expressed its disagreement regarding the provision for creating a new position of senior educator, citing arguments about the administrative structure of schools and clarifying the responsibilities of this position. He noted that the senior educator and the assistant director share the same salary scale, “so in the organigram presented to us, there may be conflicts of responsibilities.” “For us, it is wiser for the assistant director in public schools to take on the duties assigned to the senior educator, which essentially involves guiding educators,” he added.
When asked about the bill in general, Mr Karoullas said, “When the time comes, we will address the other issues.” On his position and that of his party, Mr Karoullas stated, “We have said that the bill cannot be voted on as it stands,” but they support a new evaluation plan.
AKEL highlights ambiguities and lack of safeguards
Recent meetings of the Education Committee with all educational stakeholders highlighted, according to AKEL MP Andreas Kafkalias, “significant gaps, ambiguities,” and “hastiness” in the Ministry of Education’s proposal for the new evaluation system. During the article-by-article discussion, it confirmed that critical aspects of the regulations remain unclear, while many powers transfer to the future Monitoring Authority and special committees, limiting security and transparency regarding what exactly is being voted on, he stated.
He indicated that key elements of formative evaluation, such as frequency, criteria, and procedures, are not defined while ambiguities also exist regarding the evaluation of senior educators or managing cases of inadequate performance. Despite the submission of a revised regulatory framework for immediate implementation, Mr Kafkalias noted, “these, through transitional provisions, will apply over a period of three to five years after their approval, if and when.”
DIPA supports innovation but seeks clearer upgrading routes
“There is a pressing need for a new modern evaluation system for educators because both educators and society need it, as well as our education,” said Mr Tryfonidis.
He added that as DIPA, they consider the institution of the senior educator “innovative and will support it.” They requested the creation of advancement positions for senior educators without placing them in the ranks and categories of assistant directors and directors, “because there, other duties and responsibilities apply.”
“It is an interesting discussion that we will continue to ensure the best outcome, considering what we heard over the last two days,” he said, noting that the Committee discussed the bill article by article with all trade unions and the associations of secondary and primary school principals and inspectors. Finally, Mr Tryfonidis stated that “consensus and convergence must prevail for us to achieve a successful conclusion and the passage of the bill by the end of the year.”
Bill on health rights for contract staff
In 15 days, a bill proposal “for the restoration of justice, if approved,” concerning equal rights for contractual and permanent educators regarding health, will go to a vote, Mr Mylonas stated in his remarks. “The Educational Service Committee must consider health issues, subject to certain conditions,” he added.
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