NON-FORMAL LEARNING CAN PREVENT EARLY SCHOOL LEAVING #NONFORLESL

Who are we? Nicholas Moudouros Computer Science Background ICT Teacher since 2009 ECDL Trainer Researcher on Erasmus+ Projects concerning the Education field, Adult Training, Vocational Education and Training (VET), Youth Training My organisation – Emphasys Centre ICT related courses Started providing courses since1998 Involved in various European projects since 2011 #NONFORLESL

Why we are here for? I am here to discuss about Early School Leaving & validation of Non-Formal Learning And a Project which will take part in different European countries which will help prevent Early School Leaving & promote Non-Formal Learning Feel free to inform others with the hashtag: #NONFORLESL

What is Early School Leaving? Any ideas? Each European country has it’s own idea of what Early School Leaving is. Early School Leaving is considered to be dropping out of formal education before the completion of the obligatory age of studying In Cyprus and Greece the compulsory age is 15 Most of the European Countries the compulsory age is 16 A few exceptions: Portugal and Netherlands with the obligatory age of study at 18 years old #NONFORLESL

Reasons for Early School Leaving Low grades at school Weakness in main subjects Lack of usefulness of school subjects Personal problems Family problems Bullying Other? #NONFORLESL

Consequences of Early School Leaving Unemployment Social exclusion Poverty Low life standards Impact on country’s economy #NONFORLESL

How many students are leaving school? #NONFORLESL >30% <10%

#NONFORLESL Ideas for fighting Early School Leaving? What do you think? Examples of different counties: Romania: The “Second Chance Programme” to “encourage students who dropped out of school to come back to classes and complete compulsory education and to obtain a vocational qualification” Germany: The abandoning of “Hauptschule and Realschule” as two separate schools and the merging of these types of schools into one comprehensive school Cyprus: The “Zones of Educational Priority” in socially disadvantaged areas with the aim to offer equal opportunities in education and to combat early school leaving, school failure, functional illiteracy, educational marginalization and social exclusion A New Way - Through Non Formal Learning!!! #NONFORLESL

What is Non Formal Learning? Traditionally formal learning that takes place in a school or university Non-formal learning is a term covering various structured learning situations which do not either have the level of curriculum, syllabus, accreditation and certification associated with 'formal learning', but have some sort of structure Examples of Non-Formal learning: Music Lessons (Piano, Guitar, Theory..) Art lessons Sports (Football, Basketball, Martial Arts..) ICT courses (ECDL) Programs by organisations such as the Boy Scouts or the Girl Guides Language lessons (English, French, German, Spanish..) Etc…

#NONFORLESL Theo’s Example #NONFORLESL If it wasn’t for the afternoon lessons of computing, guitar and my work at the local youth centre to earn some money, I would believe that I am a looser, a school failure and I would drop out of school a the age of 14. History and Physics are not my best subjects, but I am not lazy and I am not stupid.

#NONFORLESL The NON FORLESL Project An Erasmus+ KA2 project funded by the European Union An online tool to prevent Early School Leaving and also to create a record of a student’s non formal activities Consortium consists of partners from Greece, Cyprus, Germany, Romania and Italy #NONFORLESL

The NON FORLESL Online Tool Students will create a profile page Enter their school grades as well as their extracurricular activities with proof if available Teacher will monitor the information uploaded by the student and verify or comment on it. Create a portfolio which can be used later for high school and/or University applications #NONFORLESL

Workshop – Thinking Time! Divide in groups and think of ways in which the NON- FOR-LESL online tool could be used in your school and present it to the class. #NONFORLESL

We need your help! #NONFORLESL

Like and subscribe If you would like to be alerted on new information: Like our NONFORLESL Facebook page Like our Emphasys Centre Facebook page Visit the official website of the project: #NONFORLESL

The End! #NONFORLESL Thank you for listening to us