Thessaloniki – Hatzidakis, Schoinas and Schmit in an apprenticeship school of OAED

The 2nd Vocational School (EPAS) of state unemployment agency OAED in Thessaloniki, the largest of the 50 Schools of the Organization that operate nationwide, was visited today by the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Kostis Hatzidakis, the Vice President of the European Commission Margaritis Schoinas and the Commissioner Of Labor and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit (whose portfolio includes issues of lifelong learning), accompanied by the Governor of OAED Spyros Protopsaltis.

During the visit, the importance of vocational education for the integration of young people in the labor market and the priority given by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and OAED for its upgrading were stressed. This is a key “pillar” of planning for the recovery of the Recovery Fund. Especially for the Vocational Apprenticeship Schools of OAED, a special fund has been provided for the upgrade of the buildings where they are housed throughout the country.

As stated by the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Kostis Hatzidakis, “In the Vocational Apprenticeship Schools, it seems that the needs of young children for work can be linked to the needs of companies, with the mediation of OAED. The Agency is being modernized, using resources from Brussels, the Structural Funds and the Recovery Fund. As the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, we encourage both OAED and all other stakeholders in the field of training to do a quality job so that we do not waste the money coming from the NSRF and use it for the benefit of employees and of the unemployed especially the young in the best way “.

The Vice President of the Commission, Margaritis Schoinas, stated that: “On the occasion of our presence in the city for the Thessaloniki International Fair, my colleague Commissioner Schmit and I gladly accepted the invitation of the Minister to visit the apprenticeship schools of OAED. We leave impressed as we saw here a cell of excellence. It is probably one of the best things that can be done in our country with European funding. Too often people say “but where does Europe’s money go?”. Today we have a very specific answer. “They go where the youth of our country need skills. They need to be prepared to enter the labor market!”

Labor and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit said: “It is a great pleasure for me to visit this school which has benefited from the support of the European Union. We take care of young people and their future, providing them with the best possible skills, giving them the right opportunities to build their lives and careers. And this is exactly what Europe is doing together with the authorities, institutions and education system of Greece. We pledge that we will continue in this direction. ”

The Governor of OAED Spyros Protopsaltis stated that: “OAED upgrades and strengthens vocational education so that it meets the needs of the economy. The 50 Vocational Apprenticeship Schools enable thousands of young people to acquire the necessary skills and paid work experience in cutting-edge and in-demand specialties. The visit of the Vice President of the European Commission Mr. Margaritis Schoinas, the Employment Commissioner Mr. Nicolas Schmit and the Minister of Labor Mr. Kostis Hatzidakis was a great pleasure and honor for us today, as our teachers and students were given the opportunity to present their work 2nd EPAS Thessaloniki »

It is noted that OAED applies the Apprenticeship system that combines theoretical and laboratory vocational training with practical training in real working conditions. In the morning, the students of EPAS take Apprenticeships in companies of the private or public sector in positions related to their specialty, while in the afternoon they attend theoretical and laboratory courses. For this apprenticeship they receive a relevant allowance. The aim is for the trainees to acquire useful professional and social skills that help them to enter the labor market safely after graduation.