Children of newly arrived migrants from Greece will be offered composite classes to maintain their level of the Greek language, under an initiative of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria (GOCMV).
After discovering a lack of opportunity given to newly arrived Greek migrant students to maintain the Greek language, the GOCMV developed a survey for newly arrived Greeks to discuss their concerns regarding their children’s education. From the survey, they analysed the information and have created two composite classes for the students – one based in Chadstone on Tuesday nights, and one in the city of Melbourne for Saturday mornings.
More than 90 per cent of parents surveyed were dissatisfied by the current level of Greek education given to their children – through either day time schools or after hour schools – due to the discrepancy between the standard of Greek offered in Australia in comparison to the level the students were at in Greece.
“Parents were very keen to see a new school offering Greek at a higher level to accommodate the needs of their children,” says Dr Nick Dallas, GOCMV board and education committee member.
The composite classes – meaning there will be a range of ages and the curriculum will accommodate accordingly – will begin in February 2014.
The classes are going to be based on curriculum used in Greece, with a focus on language and grammar.
“It will be a condensed and selected program based on text books they use in Greece at the moment,” says Mr Dallas. The community has engaged teacher Maria Bakalidou as the school coordinator. Mr Dallas said this was a conscious decision, as not only is Ms Bakalidou a teacher who has worked in the Greek education system, but she’s also a mother of two migrant children who will benefit from this program. Working alongside her developing the curriculum will be Alexandros Giannadakis, the Ancient Greek teacher of the GOCMV.
A meeting will be held next Tuesday 3 December for parents to attend with any questions about these classes and enrolment enquiries at the Church of St Demetrius, 380 High Street, Prahran at 6.00 pm. For parents wanting to enrol their children now in the new classes, they can do so by visiting www.greekcommunity.com.au/gocmv_public/index.php/enroll-agls/