1st Vocational High School of Trikala

1st Vocational High School of Trikala is roofed in the fringes of our picturesque town, in Thessaly, central Greece.

It has 210 students aged 16-19 and 40 teachers. 70% of its students live in villages which are either near Trikala or far away. Most of students are low-recorded ones and their families are poor: they mainly earn their living on agriculture or animal farming. Also, about 10% of the students come from other Balkan countries and former USSR: they are known as “financial immigrants” and it is usually difficult for them to adjust themselves to the school situation or to cooperate with their schoolmates. In our school attend several students (10%) with learning disabilities and special educational needs.

Moreover, our school is the only school in upper Secondary Education in Trikala that hosts refugees.

1st Vocational High School of Trikala has 4 specialties for students:

1. Electronics
2. Electricians
3. Engineering and Mechanics
4. Computer Science

Furthermore, there are a lot of laboratories for the students’ practice.

Our students have a low level of interest in school and education and a low efficiency as well. Besides, that’s why they choose the vocational education, so they acquire skills in a profession. The teachers try to enhance their transferable skills, relevant to their career aspirations. Only a small percentage enrolls in university after graduation.

The school has built strong relations with local authorities, associations, trade unions, social networks,  collaborates  with them to develop students’ skills, attitudes and competencies by connecting theory and practice, the world of school and the world of work.

Our school participated in several international projects, since these projects can catalytically contribute to the success of the teaching procedure. Our teachers and students are able to communicate with teachers and students from other European countries, so that they are all be able to acquaint themselves with different cultures and life styles.

Last years, a robotics and innovation laboratory has been created at our school. During our participation in computer science competitions, computer science students excelled in the 2nd and 3rd Panhellenic Competition of Open Technologies in Education as well as in the 4th Panhellenic Competition of Generation Next of the Vodafone foundation. These successes reveal the important work being done at our school in STEAM.

Our main objective and priority is always the effectiveness of the teaching procedure, the enhancement of the students’ self-confidence and the enrichment of their knowledge within the frame of a student-based education, in order to offer our students better professional perspectives and to avoid early school leaving. It is also very important to connect the school with the labor market and to promote the business skills, so that the students have an easier transition to the labor market.