We conducted an in-depth interview with Mr. Panayiotis Anastasiadis, president of the parents and guardians Association of the Iraklion School of Arts. In order to present the entire interview, it will run in two parts.

PART ONE

Do you believe that the Association has specific duties and where, in your opinion, should the association focus?

The parents and guardians associations have an institutional role in the operation of a school. They are one of three components, the other two being the students and teachers, and together they are co-responsible for the smooth operation of each school in the primary and secondary education.

The state for this reason has endorsed the participation of parents and guardians associations in the School Council. The Council deals with any subject that concerns the smooth and orderly operation of the school. Similarly, the state has also endorsed the representation of these associations in the School Committees. And, they have the responsibility of managing the funds available to cover the operational expenses of schools, as well as taking any other measures deemed necessary for the support of the administrative operation of schools. It is mandatory that representatives of these parent associations participate in committees for hiring a school canteen, health inspections etc. 

Also, the parent associations are called upon to participate in the committee for the planning, carrying out and the evaluation of any programs for additional educational support in the schools.

The role of the parent and guardian associations is complex and multifaceted.

Also the state invites the associations to express their views and offer opinions on education, on a municipal level to the unions, on a prefecture level to the federations and, finally, on a national level to the confederation of the parent and guardian associations.

I must apologize for this lengthy introduction, but I wanted to play with the words from the question "you believe" and "duties".  The first one, being subjective, doesn't have a place when you talk about an institutional role, and the second is a joke these days, especially when we, as an association, must search for the people "in charge" of our schools within the government and all we can come up with, is those "not in charge".  I will, therefore, re-write the question as follows: What are the specific responsibilities of the association and where in your opinion should it focus?

Therefore, the responsibility of the association is its active participation in all processes of school life, aiming to support it and guarantee its smooth and orderly operation. The association must, and does, focus its actions on the important and decisive issues, for a smooth operation. These issues include the lack of a suitable, complete, functional and respectable school building, or the manning of the school with educators who have a permanent status.

Part two will appear next month.