91997E2229

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2229/97 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (2 July 1997)

Subject: Progress of health education in Greek schools

Health eduction is a first step towards prevention and thus helps to promote the physical and mental health of young people. Its methodology includes education, upbringing and finally the adoption of a healthy life style. However, it can also tackle issues facing school communities, e.g. drugs.

Greece's Education and Initial Vocational Training programme has a sub-programme 1, General and Technical Education, measure 1 of which concerns actions on upbringing?

Bearing in mind that a time-table exists for the above health sub-programme:

1. What steps have been taken to implement the measure and what has been the take-up?

2. Are there delays, and what is the reason for them?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (2 October 1997)

What the Honourable Member is referring to is a sub-measure of measure 1.1.f [Environmental education - education in certain health-related questions (drug prevention, AIDS, alcohol; diet) - consumer education] under measure 1.1 ('Reinforcement of secondary education programmes') of sub-programme 1 (General and technical education) of the Greek programme in question.

The activities covered by the sub-measure 'Introduction of hygiene lessons at secondary level' were defined by the Ministry of Education and adopted officially by the programme's monitoring committee in May 1996; projects relate to the development of programmes and teaching material, the creation of a network for those in positions of responsibility in this field, teacher training, the implementation of certain programmes in schools and the evaluation and dissemination of the results.

The total budget for the sub-measure is approximately 8.23 MECU: 0.32 MECU in 1996, 3.21 MECU in 1997, 2.44 MECU in 1998 and 2.21 MECU in 1989.

34% of the budget is to be used to develop programmes and teaching materials, 25% for teacher training, 17% for network development, 17% for implementation in schools and 6% for the evaluation and dissemination of the results.

The delay in the start-up of activities was due to the same factors which held up the other measures under this programme (inadequate preparation in 1994, 1995 and the beginning of 1996, inadequate structures for defining, preparing, managing and implementing the programme, lack of experience on the part of the ministerial departments in programmes financed by the Structural Funds, together with the delay in recruiting the programme manager and frequent changes in the project leaders).

Since April 1996, the situation has improved markedly, leading to renewed optimism as to the success of the operation, which is already in progress.