15-07-16 Filis announces cooperation on refugee schooling with Save the Children

The refugee crisis, and in particular the education and social integration of refugee children, was the focus of talks between Education, Research and Religious Affairs Minister Nikos Filis and former Danish prime minister Helle Thorning Schmidt, who is currently serving as CEO of the NGO “Save the Children International”.

It was agreed that a cooperation will be established between Save the Children International and the competent ministerial committee, chaired by Education Ministry General Secretary Ioannis Pantis, so as to benefit from the experience and organizational know-how of the NGO in implementing the education ministry’s programme for refugee children.

In joint remarks following the meeting, which came straight on the heels of the deadly terrorist attack in Nice, France, Nikos Filis made the following statement:

“We are horrified and express our condolences to the French people and the relatives of the victims. We know that such acts, aside from all else, can result in the victimisation of refugees, because the false impression is created in European public opinion that refugees are potential terrorists. We must realise that the refugees are victims of the ISIS terrorists, and in that sense ISIS offers the worst possible services, not only because it uproots people from their countries through war, but also because it unfortunately creates a negative milieu for the integration of refugees in European societies.”

“With Ms Helle Thorning-Schmidt we discussed the prospect of cooperation and assistance in finding teachers. The Education Ministry has announced the hiring 800 teachers who will teach special classes in both urban schools and in refugee centres. This will include educators expert in teaching Greek as a second language and teachers who will teach in foreign languages. We requested a cooperation with Save the Children in finding teachers among the refugees who know the language so as to assist in language teaching,” Filis said.

Ms Thorning-Schmidt made the following remarks:

“Thank you very much, minister, for your dedication to this issue. I am here in my capacity as CEO of Save the Children, and as I told the minister before, we are not here to criticise the government, because we believe it is doing all it can to help these children. We can help these children, we can help the [reception] camps, and we can help the islands, where educating these children is difficult. We can be inside the camps and offer learning to these children. We want to do this in line with the laws and regulations of the Greek state. We are very happy that our offer of assistance was accepted.

Remarks by Nikos Filis

Refugee children are a particular category with multiple problems related to social integration. The first problem we will confront is their education, not education in a ghetto, but linked with the Greek state education system, in a flexible manner. Already this summer we have established a programme offering creative activities to younger children in the camps. In September, we will have special reception classes where refugee children residing in urban centres can register, while educational programmes will be made available for children in camps that are far from cities.

With Ms Helle Thorning-Schmidt we discussed prospects of cooperation in finding teachers. The ministry has already issued a call for 800 teachers to teach special classes at schools and at camps.

Naturally, the kindergartens at camps will be near the children’s mothers. They cannot be far from the mothers, and we are working to arrange that.

Our ministry has a comprehensive plan. An expert committee has been established, and already we are creating a special framework for refugee children, headed by education ministry’s general secretary, Ioannis Pantis. Representatives of NGOs such as Save the Children will participate on the committee.  

We discussed many issues and we are not embellishing reality. We are aware of our weaknesses and of the fiscal constraints that greatly limit our actions. We are prepared for cooperation in order to transcend problems in a humanitarian and democratic framework. We have already accomplished much, because the Greek people with earnest and unconditional love have responded to the wave of refugees.

See video of joint statements at link below.

https://youtu.be/CjGZn_0Csc4?t=31