Freinet Pedagogy 2024-2025

"School should be a workshop of life, not a place of rote learning."
– Célestin Freinet

Freinet Pedagogy

The Study Program in Educational Sciences at the Athens University of Economics and Business successfully concluded on Friday, May 23, 2025, having incorporated a series of innovative educational activities aimed at deepening students' engagement with contemporary approaches in the science of pedagogy.

Among these activities, a special place was held by the introduction and implementation of Freinet Pedagogy, an alternative and dynamic pedagogical approach that places student-centered and collaborative learning at its core.

Throughout the program, students had the opportunity to thoroughly explore the principles, techniques, and values of Freinet Pedagogy through theoretical training, group projects, and experiential workshops coordinated by Mr. Babis Baltas, head of the pedagogical team “To Skasiarcheio.”

The participation of the pedagogical group “To Skasiarcheio” and the scientific supervisor of the initiative, Dr. Vasiliki Brinia, was crucial, as their contributions significantly enhanced the participants’ understanding of this pedagogical movement and its application in contemporary educational practice.

During the winter semester, emphasis was placed on the theoretical foundation of Freinet Pedagogy and the presentation of its core techniques, such as the “What’s New?” activity, the school newspaper, work plans, and class councils. These techniques were analyzed about the values of freedom, cooperation, and student agency.

Students actively participated in experiential exercises simulating educational settings where Freinet methods were applied, thereby cultivating critical thinking and pedagogical empathy.

In the spring semester, students' involvement in public schools further strengthened the connection between theory and practice. In this context, they deepened their understanding of the practical application of Freinet techniques, particularly through the development of work plans and the organization of lessons based on the principles of the School Cooperative.

This experience enabled participants to understand both the potential and the challenges of implementing innovative pedagogical methods in contemporary educational contexts.

The completion of this pedagogical innovation highlighted the profound educational value of Freinet Pedagogy, which goes beyond the teaching of techniques and aims at shaping free, responsible, and socially engaged individuals.

Through collaboration with the “To Skasiarcheio” team and the guidance of the scientific supervisor, students were equipped with critical tools and pedagogical sensitivity, acquiring valuable assets for their future careers as socially oriented and pedagogically innovative educators.

The successful initiative “Freinet Pedagogy”, part of the Study Program in Educational Sciences at the Athens University of Economics and Business, in collaboration with the pedagogical team “To Skasiarcheio”, will continue in the upcoming academic year 2025–2026!

Have a great summer!