Second Survey School and WOW.pdf

WORKING GROUP: SCHOOL
receive support and guidance in different transition phases during, and at the end of, basic
education
learn to look for information and acquire skills for studying, the future, life plans and life
choices by using the possibilities offered by information and communication technology
learn to develop their decision making skills and to carry out and assess their future plans,
even under changing conditions
receive support and guidance in their occupational orientations, including subject, training
and occupational choices that transcend gender boundaries
learn how to obtain information about the society, working life, and entrepreneurship, and
come to embrace multiculturalism and internationalism
Germany
It is difficult to draw an comprehensive picture of the needed competencies. Some important
aspects (and some are maybe underestimated in school today) are mentioned above in section
II.1.1. and section II.2.2.
The more general question is, have the school, and especially the compulsory secondary one in
Germany a competence based curriculum, that is not just focused on the thematic domains
(literacy, numeracy, science) but also general competences like social competencies and self
competencies (see also chapter IV.2.2). This last seems to get more and more important
because of the increasing complexity and the ongoing change in the world. To find a place in
the world is in our days not longer a question of first transition form school (and family) to the
world of work, but a continues demand. Like the captain on a ship, pupil need maps,
navigation instruments, a goal (and the will to change a goal if necessary), a habit as the
captain and a inner compass. Transferring this picture to competences it is clear, that
information and knowledge about domains is not enough.
Greece
The stage of transition from school to the labour market is actually a very sensitive and
important period for young people. Actually, most of the times, the real transition is from
school to colleges or universities and then to the world of work. Although, there are a lot of
young people who work after the school or work in parallel with their studies.
The main problem is that the educational system focuses on providing knowledge and
bachelors. The same time students and parents aims just to get a degree. The problem is very
obvious in Greece as far as the students, according to the Greek educational system, have to
give exams in order to go in to the university and have to select the preferred department of
college or university by the age of 17 years old. As far as the exams are very strict, students
focus on their lessons and the do not think at all why they are studying, which is their
professional scope.
‐ 54 ‐