Developments: Significant new activity on the EPALE platform
While Dafni Kek focuses on online education for the less advantaged, the Hellenic Education Association (HAEA) advocates for liberal adult learning and education, in times where vocationalism has become the norm. Neither organisation is not supported by the Greek government. Dafni Kek improved its funding situation through Erasmus grants. The funding situation of adult education in Greece has been influenced by a long period of austerity. During the pandemic, many providers had to close and/or could not afford to pay their membership.
According to both members, the situation of adult education in the past year has deteriorated, yet Dafni Kek mentions that there has been significant activity in Greece through the online platform EPALE. The platform offered many opportunities for pro-active peer learning and digital skill training in times of the pandemic.
In the past years the Greek government implemented some policies for Upskilling Pathways, but according to EAEA’s members there were no new initiatives that fostered the Sustainable Development Goals. The report from the European Semester mirrors their experience of adult education in Greece. The European Pillar of Social Rights has been implemented in some areas in Greece. However, neither of the EAEA members was aware of a civil society consultation. In general, civil society is rarely consulted in Greece.
Some measures in the last year promoted participation in adult education and others supported the employment of vulnerable groups. A new government project issued vouchers to support people who have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis with training for digital competences, but this initiative was cancelled due to the low quality of the courses offered. The government also supported the establishment of a global distance education platform, seeking to bring education to each school unity in Greek territory. However, there were major technical difficulties, because there was no support or recognition of the homes that didn't have the infrastructure to support digital learning.