Pedagogical developer Zsuzsa SALLAINÉ SIPKA spent five days in Dortmund, from the 18th till the 23rd of May 2014 to examine extended schools.
One of the highlighted projects of the Hungarian Institute for Educational Research and Development is the Social Renewal Operation Program (SROP) 3.1.1., a sub-project of which is to develop educational programs that support the professional work of all-day schools. Ms. Sipka had the opportunity to visit classes and to talk with teachers, a school psychologist and the two principals of the Kautzky Grundschule and Hauptschule, Scharnhors. During the talks, she informed the German partners about the Hungarian project, and got acquainted with the operation of the all-day program in these schools. The class visits were organised in a way so that she could meet the same group in classes with different teachers. The organisers also paid attention so that Ms. Sipka can see all four grades, both during the morning and the afternoon sessions. There was also time for her to join in activities outside the classroom (a sport event and a visit to the local water company with student groups). The visit overall was a great learning opportunity since these schools have a 10 year long experience being extended schools, and the experiences gained there are directly adaptable into work of the SROP 3.1.1. project.
