"Actions to support education staff, teachers and schools for the integration of refugee children"

ATHENS, 20 February 2025-The new digital educational platform Teach4Inclusion was presented last Tuesday by the General Secretariat for Primary, Secondary and Special Education and the UNICEF Greece Country Office. The launch took place in the framework of the event titled: "Actions to support education staff, teachers and schools for the integration of refugee children", which was organized at the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports by the Independent Department for Coordination and Monitoring of Refugee Education of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports and the UNICEF Greece Country Office.

https://teach4inclusion.gr  is aimed at teachers who teach in classrooms with refugee and migrant students and other vulnerable populations, providing a 30-hour Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on inclusive education. Through 12 modules and 32 lessons, 280 short videos, self-assessment questions and additional resources, teachers are provided with the necessary support to fully understand key topics in inclusive education. Topics include children's rights, differentiated teaching, teaching Greek as a second language, inclusion of students with disabilities and special educational needs and the basic principles of inclusive education.

It should be noted that the Teach4Inclusion platform is a continuation of the successful 400-hour Teach4Integration Programme, which was carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the Institute of Educational Policy (IEP), UNICEF and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the University of Thessaly and the University of Athens. The Teach4Integration Programme has supported more than 8,000 teachers, school counsellors, school principals and Refugee Education Coordinators (SEP).

The event was addressed by a representative of the Deputy Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Zetta Makri, the President of the Institute of Educational Policy Spyridon Doukakis and the UNICEF Representative in Greece Dr. Ghassan Khalil.

In the message of Deputy Minister Zetta Makri it was emphasized: "With our motto "not a single child out of school" we are creating a school free of categorizations and exclusion. With respect for human rights and social justice and with the best interests of every child who lives, grows up and is educated in Greece serving as a compass, we are creating a new educational policy for the integration and school inclusion of refugee/immigrant children”.

UNICEF Representative in Greece Ghassan Khalil expressed his delight at the launch of the new T4Inclusion Platform and stressed that he "looks forward to continuing the excellent cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the Greek Government and all stakeholders, so that together we can prioritize quality inclusive education for all children".

In his speech, the Secretary General of Primary, Secondary and Special Education of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Ioannis Katsaros noted: " The inclusion of all children in schools, starting from respect for their personality, skills and needs are constant and unchanging objectives of the Ministry of Education. The Teach4Inclusion programme contributes to these strategic objectives of the Ministry in a realistic way and through the lived experiences of teachers. The previous collaboration with UNICEF and its operational team, as well as the partnerships developed with IEP, Universities and the relevant department of the Ministry, guarantee the success of the project".

This was followed by the presentations of Galina Altuhova, Head of the Independent Department for Coordination and Monitoring of Refugee Education of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports and Despina Karamperidou, Head of Education of the UNICEF Greece Country Office. Afterwards, a discussion was held on the topic: "The perspective of the actors and participants", which was moderated by Lina Pantazi from the Department of Coordination and Monitoring of Refugee Education with the participation of:

- Potoula-Spyridoula Vassiliou, Education Counsellor, Primary Education Directorate, A’Athens.

- Konstantinina Bozonelou, Director of the 22^nd Primary School of Athens.

- Stavroula Kyriakopoulou, Director of the 16th Primary School of Volos

- Victoria Koemtzopoulou, Refugee Education Coordinator

- Eugenia Gargaletsou, Teacher, School Life Counsellor

Upon conclusion of the event, Giorgos Simopoulos, Education Officer at the UNICEF Greece Country Office, presented the digital platform "Teach4Inclusion", expressing the expectation that it will be a useful tool for the entire educational community.

The event was attended (in person and online) by about 400 Education Counsellors and Refugee Education Coordinators from all over the country as well as members from the General Directorates of the Central Office of the Ministry of Education.