28-07-17 Texbook Series and reference handbooks for English, French and German language

The Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs announces that the Series of Textbooks and Optional Reference Handbooks in the English, French and German languages for the second and third year courses at vocational high schools -  which may be submitted to the competent directorate for evaluation, in order to be used in the teaching of foreign languages at Vocational High Schools for the academic year 2016-2017 - must have the following characteristics.

Criteria for Selection of Series of Textbooks and Reference Handbooks

1. Series of textbooks that are submitted in compliance with the following terms –

With the Programme of Study in English, (Ministerial Decision 3944/ Γ2/, Government Gazette B’ 1868) for High School. The material in the Series of Textbooks must cover the existing hourly teaching schedule.

1. The series of textbooks and the optional reference handbooks must reflect contemporary currents in the teaching of living languages for students in the corresponding age group.   A series must be comprised of at least two books, always with the condition that they cover the needs of the hourly programme of the particular language.

1. Teaching series and optional handbooks must use the language correctly, without spelling, grammatical or syntactical errors.
2. The choice should correspond to the current communications situation. The new rules of spelling must be used in German.
   1. Selectable textbook series are those accompanied by: A student textbook, a workbook, and a teachers’ textbook manual.  Alternatively, the student textbook and the reference manual may be combined in one volume. The teacher’s handbook may be either printed or in digital form.

The teaching manual must necessarily include –

Analytic teaching instructions regarding the philosophy and teaching approach of the series.

Analytic teaching instructions and advice for each chapter.

Transferring all acoustic aids.

Solutions to all exercises in the student textbook and the reference manual.

If even one of the above specifications is not met, then textbook series are disqualified.

1. For English as a general education course at vocational high schools –

Series of textbooks that were written over six years ago are disqualified. The Series of textbooks written after 2011 are eligible for selection. The same applies for recent reprints or copied older textbooks. However, improved updates of older textbook series and a substantial improvement in methodological approach, may render them selectabl At least 20 percent of the old textbook must be revised to be considered. The publisher must also submit the older edition and a report demonstrating the changes. If a textbook is not completed in a certain academic year, it has been proposed that it qualify for the following year, to ensure teaching and methodological continuity.

Regarding English as a course in the second and third year of daytime vocational high schools and the second, third, and fourth year at evening vocational high schools, as well as French and German in the third year of day and evening vocational high schools. With the specialision of ΅Employee in the Economy and Tourism Administration¨, the limitations of publication and reprint dates do not apply, as the teaching material is comprised mainly of professional terminology, and they are not renewed as often as other textbooks.

Compliance with the programme of study and suitability for the age target group.

1. TERMS OF SUBMISSION OF TEACHING REFERENCE HANDBOOKS
   1. Authors and publishers do not have the right to submit simultaneously the same teaching series or the same optional reference handbook for two educational levels – primary and secondary schools.
   2.  Textbook series and optional reference handbooks that are submitted for review will not be returned to the author, whether they are selected or not.
   3. For textbook series, the applying authors and publishers who have ready textbook series – must note the price of each book in the series, including the student textbook, workbooks and CDs.
   4. Interested authors and publishers who have ready textbook series, with excellent and unflawed printing, may submit to the Education, Research and Religious Affairs Ministry, Directorate of Vocational Education, Sectiion A΄-  office 1117, telephone 30-210-344-2229, 37 Andreas Papandreou Street, 15180, Marousi - for approval up until 19 August, 2016, a comprehensive textbook series, including the student textbook, workbook,  teacher’s manual and three – 3 – copies along with the application that cites the series title and individual book titles, the school grade for which it is written, publication date, and the final price at which the book will be sold, including VAT tax and the related discount.
   5. Publishers whose textbook series are approved simultaneously cede Braille publication rights for the blind and with enlarged print for people with amblyopia, a type of visual impairment, to the Institute of Educational Policy, the Institute of Computer Technology, and the state Diophantos Publications. 

The full text of the announcement, the model application for textbook approval and more information on the indicative subject areas which must be included in the teaching manuals and reference handbooks for the teaching of the English, French, and German languages at vocational high schools may be found at the following Education Ministry link below.

            http://www.minedu.gov.gr/publications/docs2016/280716_ksenoglossa_EPAL_plires.pdf