The NTA, at the request of the Internal Audit Unit of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, conducted an audit on the legality of the procedure for school excursions during the school years 2021-22, 2022-23 in all the school units of Attica - 14 Directorates of Education (7 Primary and 7 Secondary), approximately 600,000 students.
Due to the large number of school units, the audit is conducted by sampling method, based on international standards, and reports will be issued per school unit according to the sample.
For the field trips/student visits that took place during the school years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, in a specific school unit, it was found that:
- No annual planning/schedule was prepared in writing as required.
- The data provided did not confirm that there was a previously required written notification of the parents/guardians on the detailed planning/schedule of excursions/student visits.
- In some cases, the procedure for receiving financial offers was not followed.
- In some cases, the required written notification of the Road Traffic Police for the control of vehicles did not occur.
- In some cases, there were far too many accompanying teachers without specific justification in the Teachers' Association, in excess of the prescribed ratio of accompanying teachers to students.
Among others, the following were proposed:
- To the competent Deputy Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports to examine the possibility of issuing instructions regarding the detailed recording of the actions of the excursion leader to check the suitability of the accommodation premises selected, catering, sports, and entertainment of students and the documents that must be sought for the certification of their legal operation, as well as the safety and hygiene conditions and standards.
- To the Head of the competent Directorate of Education, within the framework of his/her responsibilities, taking into account the findings and conclusions of the report:
- to investigate, by any appropriate means, the reported cases concerning the application of the provision of Article 15 par. 7 of the ministerial decision 20883/GD4/2020 (B΄456) of the Minister and Deputy Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, concerning the notification of the Road Traffic Directorate of the Hellenic Police, in order to carry out an occupancy audit of the vehicles before the departure of students on their travels,
- to take the appropriate action within his/her competence in the event that any disciplinary offenses are found to have been committed and
- Addressed recommendations to the management of the school unit to strictly implement the measures provided by the ministerial decision 20883/GD4/2020 (B΄456) of the Minister and Deputy Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, regarding the excursions, educational visits, and travel of students.
Audits continue for all school units in the Region of Attica.