COMENIUS CORNER
​Eindhoven
The Netherlands
​Soyaux
France
​Cucujaes- Oliveira de Azeméis
Portugal
The Collège Pierre Mendès France ( Soyaux) is a rather large Junior Secondary School of 580 students . It is located in a rural area 5 kms from Angoulême which is the main city of our “department “ ( French territorial division).
The student body is composed of many students from diverse backgrounds , although most of the students from the European Section are above standard social situation . Their ages range from 11 to 15 years old .
The aim of our partnership is to strengthen the European dimension within educational organization .
On the French side the European class in the Collège Pierre Mendès France has existed since 2006 . The section runs on 2 years ( grade 8 and grade 9) . We are trying our best to encourage friendship bonds among young European citizens, develop our students’ system and values and tolerance of other people and cultures .
​Nicosia
Cyprus
SintLucas is a pre vocational school and vocational school for creative industries. Pupils and students can acquire several qualifications in the area of e.g. Grahic design, management etc. Our main role in the project will be the coordinating role. The school has a high level of professional equipment. The use of equipment and expertise of all different kind of arts and photography is part of our role in the project. Our vocational school challenges and supports pupils to achieve personal excellence within an internationally recognized, pupils-centred curriculum. Art, 3D and multimedia are the key subjects of our curriculum. During one period pupils work on these and general compulsory subjects. During the week they also have so-called "GO-uren" in which they work on a project. After one period we have a project week where outcomes will be presented, mainly to family. Once a year we try to break the world record. For 7 years in a row we achieved to break a creative record. We strive to provide a safe and supportive school environment which allows pupils to settle easily and develop sense of belonging. Our institute seeks to be open and accountable in its actions, and to involve parents, guardians, teachers and pupils as partners in the educational process.
SintLucas has developed a competence based curriculum and programme.
Our school the Gymnasium of Pera Chorio- Nisou, is situated in the agricultural area of Pera Chorio-Nisou, 20 km from Nicosia the Capital of Cyprus. The area has its unique cultural character with many monuments, churches, a museum and the archaeological site of ancient Idalion.
Our 508 students aged 12 to 15 years old, live in the nearby villages.
The majority of our students are Cypriots but we also have many students from Russia Romania and Bulgaria. Most of their parents are working in farms in the agricultural area.
Because of the diverse educational levels of our students, we teach special programs for students with particular weaknesses in the Greek language and mathematics. We also have a support program for the students with special needs as well as a special programme of Greek language for students from other countries.
Most of our academic staff are young teachers with achievements in many school competitions and contribution to the local community such as charity, recycling and sensitivity to the environment. They are also interested to experiment with new pedagogical approaches and give opportunities to their students to express themselves through team work, and to cooperate with fellow students from other schools.
Our aim is to make our students more tolerant persons towards diversity and help them to open their horizons of global thinking and intercultural understanding. We also want to promote the idea that all the students, especially those with special needs and the immigrants, are all European citizens and they deserve to have equal opportunities in education and be able to expand their skills and knowledge about the culture and the habits of other European countries.
Our school, Escola Básica e Secundária Dr. Ferreira da Silva, is geographically located in the north-centre of Portugal, in a small town called Cucujães, near to cities like Oporto and Aveiro. This region is characterized by a strong industrial component, mainly in the sector, wich has a major role in employing local people. However, national and international crisis has brought unemployment to this area, as factories are frequently closing doors. This factor as been increasing the number of students with economic difficullties, due to unemployed person in their houseold.
The school us around 650 students, aged between 10 and 15 years old, from the 4th to the 9th grade. It also offers one education and trinning course, with equivalence to the 9th grade, in the areas of electricity and family/community support.
We have a few students with learning difficulties, some with special needs and others with behavior problems. Although more than fifty percent of students say they want to achieve a university degree, there's a considerable number with low expectations and no goals for the future.
We would like to participate in this partnership because we want to simulate the entrepreneurship of students, to develop their communication skills in foreign languages (English) and to exchange knowledge, opinions and experiences with other countries.