Self-Evaluation as a Key Tool for Religion Teachers’ Self-Cognition in Greek Secondary Education: A Modeling Approach

Introduction: In the past five years, educators and policymakers in Greece have addressed evaluation in secondary education, transforming it into a practical tool for educational improvement from 2019 to 2023 despite its challenges. The evaluation process enhances educational efforts and determines the status of teachers and students. It includes two aspects: a) self-improvement, where teachers self-evaluate based on their contributions, and b) self-cognition, which relates to cognitive and personal characteristics. Both aspects connect closely to the provision of religious education (RE) in Greece. Upgrading RE teachers is essential for the broader educational structure and future social dynamics in Greece and elsewhere. This study aims to: a) examine the relationship between self-cognition and self-evaluation at the potential measurement level, and b) develop a self-evaluation model for RE teachers that illustrates a progress index.

Methods: Developing an educational evaluation model will frame self-cognition within a logical assessment process. A semi-structured interview will help examine the correlation between self-cognition and self-evaluation in social contexts (Third Opinion Theory).

Results: Results are summarized visually and explained within the research’s scope and limitations.

Discussion: Achieving self-cognition requires specific methods to enhance teachers’ capacities and promote self-knowledge and social skills. This is particularly crucial for RE teachers, who play a vital role in shaping school pedagogical and philosophical culture.

Limitations: The research concentrates on two domains: a) the self-evaluation of Religious Education (RE) teachers within only secondary education and b) a restricted semi-structured interview sample, necessitated by time constraints, which will be presented accordingly.

Conclusions: Religious Education (RE) is not only a vital discussion topic but also a significant subject in Middle Education. It particularly resonates with women’s sensitivities, fostering self-awareness in Greek Middle Education. This process leads to a new modeling framework and evaluation system as such.