Good practice: Public Second chance schools (Public Adult Education School)

The Public Second chance schools operate in Greece since 2000 (legislated in 1997) under the supervision of the Youth and Life Long Learning Foundation (Ministry of Education), with the aim to strengthen literacy, numeracy, civic and digital capabilities among dropouts. 

The Institution of Second Chance Schools (Public Adult Education Schools) is a European programme within the framework of fighting against social exclusion. These Schools in Greece engage in developing skills in the Greek language, mathematics, social sciences, the English language and communication through ICT, developing skills in the domain of science and the environment, basic training and preparation for professional life in cooperation with local authorities, the personal interests of the people being educated such as music, theatre etc., delivering workshops and projects, and counselling on psychology and job matters. The program is aimed at dropouts and adults who have not completed the compulsory secondary education.

Prior to the course beginning, there is always a needs diagnosis, which puts the learner at the centre of the learning process. The curriculum is flexible, designed in accordance with each SCS profile of the learners. It offers constant support for the learners in order to face their difficulties and interlinks with other environments and contexts like public agencies, work environments, etc. for social activation and familiarisation with the functions. Second chance schools provide counselling services for career and psychological purposes. Students acquire basic skills and develop their personal competences, learn to use new technologies, learn foreign languages (mainly English, but there is also the provision for other languages as well) and improved employability. The basic pivot of the holistic literacy methodology consists of learning to learn.