By Nikola Petros Kaparti
[/P]The OELMEK is furious with the Ministry of Education for the insubstantial changes made to the syllabus of the quarterly exams, with its president calling it a "mockery" and the D.Board of the educational organization to think about dynamic reaction measures.
The Cyprus Times understands that the board of the teachers' education organisation reviewed the revised changes received from the Ministry of Education on Monday after months.
Speaking to the Cyprus Times about the issue, OELMEK president Konstantinos Konstantinopoulos said that "since the summer we have sent several letters to the Ministry of Education that we have a problem with the syllabus, but no substantial moves have been made. Two weeks ago we also spoke with the Minister and held a meeting, and we urgently raised the issue with him. Mr. Prodromou conveyed to us that he instructed the Secondary Education Directorate to make some changes on the curriculum."
"We had requested," he continued, "that meetings be held between some of the discipline liaisons and the superintendents, so that they could look at the whole issue on the basis of their scientific knowledge. These meetings never took place and they sent us a letter yesterday with supposed revisions but for most subjects they said nothing of substance. Some minor changes were made to individual subjects which are not sufficient. Basically it is a mockery what the Ministry of Education sent us."
The president of OELMEK also stressed that "we cannot tell them for 3.5 months that there is a problem and they do not accept to hold meetings of the responsible persons together with the scientific associations and send us something that does not say anything substantial."
The president of OELMEK also stressed that "we cannot tell them for 3.5 months that there is a problem and they do not accept to hold meetings of the responsible persons together with the scientific associations and send us something that does not say anything substantial.
By way of example, Konstantinopoulos pointed out that with regard to the Ancient Greek course, the Ministry removed sections from the middle instead of the end of the syllabus. "He explained.
Asked if they have expressed these concerns to the Ministry, Mr. Constantinopoulos said that they have not announced a substantial reduction of the curriculum and have removed chapters that the students have already learned.
Asked if they have expressed these concerns to the Ministry, Mr. Constantinopoulos said that they have not announced a substantial reduction of the curriculum. Konstantinopoulos replied that they conveyed their concerns to the Director of the Secondary School on Monday and now they are publicly denouncing the issue and we will wait to see what the Ministry's reaction will be.
Asked to comment on whether they are considering taking strong measures, Mr. Konstantinopoulos replied that if there is no response it is possible that dynamic measures will be taken.
The examination schedule for high schools is also problematic
From there, the president of OELMEK indicated that the examination schedule for high schools is also problematic, noting that "the Ministry of Education has set 3 examinations of courses on the same day".
"It is very difficult for 13-15 year olds to have to take 3 exams on the same day. Until now, children were taking Biology-Chemistry on one day and Physics on the other," he added.
Konstantinopoulos also stressed that "the general problem is that there are four-month exams. Since they are implementing this institution they ought to at least take measures to mitigate the problems. Of all the possible options, in many cases they choose the worst option."
It is recalled that for the three high school classes that are giving quarterly exams for the first time this year, the first quarter exams will be held from Monday 16 January to Monday 23 January. While for high schools and technical schools, the first quarter exams will be held from Monday, January 16 to Friday, January 27.
Letters to Candidates for the Presidency of the Republic
At the same time, the OLMEK will send letters to the candidates for the Presidency of the Republic in order to find out their positions regarding quarterly examinations, since it is an established position of the educational organisation to abolish the institution.
"The answers we will receive will be sent to the teachers because for us the term examinations are an important issue and we want the views of the candidates for the presidency," he stressed in conclusion.
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