91998E0007

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0007/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (29 January 1998)

Subject: Further training of primary school teachers who have graduated from teacher-training colleges

The further training of primary school teachers in Greece is important for their professional status as it puts the qualifications of college-trained teachers on a par with those of their university-graduate colleagues. It is funded from Action 1.3.a of the 'General and Technical Education' subprogramme under the 'Education and Initial Vocational Training' programme. There are, however, problems in the implementation of the measure in terms of the small number of teachers who undergo the training, the travelling and expenses involved.

1. Since seminars are given at the end of teaching, could there not be more decentralized training centres to reduce the distance to be travelled; some participants have to travel more than 100 km?

2. Could financial compensation be provided for those undergoing training or those who have to travel long distances, particularly for unemployed college-trained teachers?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (9 March 1998)

According to the structural funds regulations, the responsibility for the execution of the various actions belongs to the national authorities. Nevertheless, the Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that training seminars are decentralised to the degree that the universities, responsible implementing agencies for this action, consider necessary and feasible, taking into consideration the quality of the training offered.

Although both the remuneration and the travel costs of the trainees are eligible expenditure according to Article 2 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2084/93 of 20 July 1993 amending Regulation (EEC) No 4255/88 laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards the European social fund ((OJ L 193, 31.7.1993. )) only travel costs are covered by the programme in this action. The main reason for that is the high cost of the operation, resulting from the number of the trainees (about 16 000) and the hours of training (different categories according to their practical experience).