Educational Leadership in Greece during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Challenges and Prospects

Panagiotis Geropoulos,Kostis Tsioumis

doi:10.5296/ijld.v11i4.19085

Abstract

The subject of this paper is a discussion on the treatment of the Covid-19 pandemic in the educational system of Greece. More specifically, it focuses on the policies and practices implemented by the principals of secondary education schools regarding the health crisis management in the school environment. The paper studies the actions concerning the administration of online teaching during the March-May 2020 period, as well as the reopening of schools in September after the first phase of the pandemic. Despite the difficulties, problems and various obstacles that the leaders met, it is expressed that certain positive elements can arise from the “experience” of the health crisis in education. At the same time, reference will be made to the policies and mandates of the Ministry of Education. So, the approach of the “leaders’ practices” on a central and local level includes: 1) the organization and coordination of e-learning and 2) the challenges faced by secondary education principals during the conventional teaching period.

Highlights

The Covid-19 health crisis has had a significant impact on education systems around the world
The subject of this paper is a discussion on the treatment of the Covid-19 pandemic in the educational system of Greece
It focuses on the policies and practices implemented by the principals of secondary education schools regarding the health crisis management in the school environment

Summary

Introduction

The Covid-19 health crisis has had a significant impact on education systems around the world. (Sahlberg, 2020) Greece was one of the first countries in the world that on March 11, 2020, decided to suspend all educational activities at all levels In this context and in a very short period of time, the principals of school units in Greece were called to, without being prepared in advance, organize the teaching using digital media. This is an unexpected event that upset the educational status quo because there was no formal plan to manage the teaching of courses in a time of crisis. The crisis created by the pandemic has highlighted many problems in education that require special skills to solve them, such as communication, digital knowledge, empathy and interaction. (Alvarez et al 2021) Let us gradually examine the attitudes and actions of the principals of Gymnasiums and Lyceums regarding these two sub-issues, along with the policies of the Ministry which in collaboration with the experts issued protocols of instructions on specific issues of personal protection

The e-Learning Endeavor and Educational Leadership

School Life and Leadership Under the Threat of Covid-19

Conclusions