University of Cyprus: PAFSE pilot implementation and open schooling events
End of June 2023, all Cyprus PAFSE pilot schools have finished the PAFSE pilot implementations of educational scenarios for school year 2022-2023, which they had designed and developed, organizing open schooling events (open public events). The Cypriots’ students presented and debated three different public health socio-scientific issues, namely: (1) Childhood Obesity: Challenges and Solutions, (2) Biological, social, cultural, and economic dimensions of tobacco smoking, (3) Vaccines development and the science that responds to hesitancy. Eleven (11) successful PAFSE implementations and eleven (11) successful open schooling events were made in eight (8) public schools in Cyprus with students from 12-15 years old. In the context of the open schooling model, Cyprus PAFSE pilot schools in collaboration with other stakeholders become agents for the promotion of sustainable public health.
At the PAFSE open schooling events in Cyprus, more than 650 participants have been involved from different groups, namely: (1) students in schools, (2) teachers in schools, (3) school principals and vice-principals, (4) scientists, (5) parents, (6) members of civic society and local community. Within the PAFSE open schooling public health events insightful observations and statements were collected regarding participants’ views on following items: (1) interest to attend such public health events, (2) readiness to recommend PAFSE to others, (3) open schooling public health events’ contribution to schools and community health and well-being, (4) contribution of collaboration between school and local community for the promotion of health and well-being among students, teachers, parents and local community, (5) contribution of PAFSE project to students, teachers, parents and local communities’ preparation to deal with public health socio-scientific issues and risks.
The results of the implementations and public events indicated the participants’ high interest to participate in such events. Especially, parents indicated the effectiveness of the open schooling model to science learning involving the community and appreciated very much such interactions with the school. Additionally, the results of Cyprus PAFSE implementations and public events served as and provided meaningful and helpful orientation for further improvement of our educational scenarios and provided more sophisticated insights into the stakeholders’ involvement and interaction in PAFSE project.
In general, based on the feedback we have received and the amendments of the revised version of Cyprus educational scenarios, we are moving forward with the PAFSE enactments for school year 2023-2024. In addition, PAFSE schools move towards becoming more open to the local communities and implementing more meaningful synergies with stakeholders.
