‘Get trained to teach us,’ say youngsters

The office of the Children’s Ombudsman runs a program that gives pupils a forum where their voices can be heard

‘How can we respect school when we all know we have to go to tuition college so we can cover all the syllabus? Can’t the school cover the syllabus?’ asked the children who spoke to the Children’s Ombudsman staff, many of whom feel that tuition colleges devalue schools. Some schoolteachers who work evenings at tuition colleges are unwilling to help their own students at school.

By Maria Delithanassi - Kathimerini

More than 170 schools have taken part so far in the program “I Express Myself, I Listen, I Participate,” run by the Children’s Ombudsman. “Respect yourself so I can respect you,” “Give children love – it doesn’t cost anything,” “Dialogue always helps,” “Get trained to teach us,” “Accept me as I am,” and “School = pupils + teachers together” are just some of their mottos... and demands.

During school visits by staff from the Children’s Ombudsman’s office, children express their views, assume their own responsibilities and confirm the importance of universal human values, such as love, respect for others, responsibility and justice. “We want to remind adults that if they devote a little time to listening to children, they will learn. Children cannot take matters into their own hands. We must assume the responsibility and take steps,” Children’s Ombudsman Giorgos Moschos told Kathimerini.