THE GREEK EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

 

THE GREEK EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

The Greek educational system is mainly divided into three levels: primary, secondary and tertiary, with an additional post-secondary level providing vocational training.

Primary education is divided into kindergarten lasting one or two years, and primary school spanning six years (ages 6 to 12).

Secondary education comprises two stages: Gymnasio (variously translated as Middle or Junior High School), a three-year school, after which students can attend Lykeion (an academically oriented high school) or Vocational training.

Higher Tertiary education is provided by Universities and Polytechnics, Technological Educational Institutes and Academies which primarily cater for the military and the clergy. Undergraduate courses typically last 4 years (5 in polytechnics and some technical/art schools, and 6 in medical schools), postgraduate (MSc level) courses last from 1 to 2 years and doctorates (PhD level) from 3 to 6 years.

All levels are overseen by the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs. The Ministry exercises centralized control over state schools, by prescribing the curriculum, appointing staff and controlling funding. Private schools also fall under the mandate of the Ministry, which exercises supervisory control over them.

 All levels of education are catered for by both private and public schools. State-run schools and universities do not charge tuition fees and textbooks are provided free to all students.

There are also a number of private tutorial schools, colleges and universities operating alongside the state education and providing supplementary tuition. These parallel schools provide foreign language tuition, supplementary lessons for weak students as well as exam preparation courses for the competitive exams in national level. Most of the students typically attend such classes (and examinations) at the tutors’ schools in the afternoon and evening in addition to their normal schooling.

Primary education

Elementary schools are called "Dimotiko" (demotic, meaning municipal), a carryover term from a time when such schools were run by local communities. The name remains although it has been obsolete for decades. Years are called "classes", from first to sixth.

:·Year 1: age 6 to 7

·Year 2: age 7 to 8

·Year 3: age 8 to 9

·Year 4: age 9 to 10

·Year 5: age 10 to 11

·Year 6: age 11 to 12

A normal school-day starts at 8.15 and finishes from 13.15 to 15.00 depending on the school. The classes last between 40 and 90 minutes. The school year always starts on September 11 and ends οn June 15. The students have summer vacation (about 3 months), Christmas vacation (2 weeks) and Easter vacation (2 weeks). Furthermore, students take usually another four days off in order to celebrate their two national holidays (28/10and 25/3).

Gymnasium (Lower secondary education -Middle School) (compulsory education)

·1st grade, age 12 to 13

·2nd grade, age 13 to 14

·3rd grade, age 14 to 15

Starts on September 11 and ends on June 15 to 18. The lessons end on 31st of May so that the students will be able to study for their examinations in June. The classes start at 8.00 and end from 13.45 to 14.15 according to the type of school. Classes last 45-40 min.

 There were 4 types of gymnasium in Greece:

1. General Gymnasium (entering there from the primary school is automatic)

2. Musical Gymnasium (to enter this type of school students must pass certain exams on a musical instrument)

 3. Experimental Gymnasium (to enter this type of schools students must pass certain exams on Maths, Science, Reading Comprehension and Writing [the last two are written as one]

4. Church Gymnasium

General Lyceum (upper secondary education -High School)

Vocational Lyceum

·1st grade, age 15 to 16

·2nd grade, age 16 to 17                 ·3rd grade, age 17 to 18

Higher Tertiary education

Higher education comprises the:

• University sector:

1. Panepistimia (universities)
2. Technical universities
3. The Athens school of Fine Arts (ASFA).

• Technological sector:

1. Technologika ekpaideftika idrymata (technological educational institutes - TEIs)
2. The School of Pedagogical and Technological Education (ASPETE).

Both sectors are only public.  It is noted that technological education institutions (TEI) have merged with higher education institutes (AEI).

General formal adult education

Formal education includes also general formal adult education.  Certification is equivalent to the one awarded by gymnasia (lower secondary schools) or lykeia (upper secondary schools).  It is recognized at national level.  Formal adult education entails:

• Second chance schools
• Evening general upper secondary schools
• Evening vocational upper secondary schools
• Institute of vocational training
• Lifelong learning centers