1. Eleni Mahera
THE STRUCTURE OF THE GREEK
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
APRIL 2013
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2. Eleni Mahera
Structure of the Greek educational system
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3. Eleni Mahera
PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION
(ISCED 0)
Education in Greece is compulsory for all children
from 5 -15 years of age.
In Pre-Primary education it is compulsory for all
children who turn 5 to attend a kindergarten school.
2-5
OPTIONAL
5-6
COMPULSORY
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4. Eleni Mahera
PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION
(ISCED 0)
School life, however, can start earlier at the
age of 2,5 with pre-school education in
institutions (both private and public) called
“Vrefonipiakoi or paidikoi stathmoi”
(nursery schools)
which operate along with kindergartens
Some nursery schools have sections for babies, from the age of
8 months.
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5. Eleni Mahera
68,2% of the children aged 4-6 attend nursery schools in Greece
while the average in Europe is 92,3% (acc. to a 2008 survey)
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PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION
(ISCED 0)

6. Eleni Mahera
PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION
(ISCED 0)
There are 3 types of kindergarten schools
 half day schools (08:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.)
 all-day schools (07.45 a.m. to 16.00 p.m.)
 special schools for children with SN
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7. Eleni Mahera
PRIMARY EDUCATION
ISCED 1
Primary Education called “Dimotiko” lasts 6
years (6 -12 years of age).
School day starts at 08:15 and ends at 13:30
It is obligatory and it can be public or private.
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8. Eleni Mahera
PRIMARY EDUCATION
ISCED 1
Alternative structures
 All-day schools (with an extended timetable and an enriched
curriculum )
 Schools for minorities (in Thrace there are 235 minority
primary schools, where education is both in Greek and Turkish)
 Experimental schools (under the supervision of
universities, enhancing the implementation of innovative and creative
teaching methods and tools)
 Schools for special educational needs
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9. Eleni Mahera
PRIMARY EDUCATION
ISCED 1
The school year is divided into 3 semesters.
Students are given descriptive assessment
from Grade 1-4 and are assessed on a mark
scale from 0-10 in Grades 5-6
There are no end-of-the-year exams.
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10. Eleni Mahera
PRIMARY EDUCATION
ISCED 1
Drop-out rate in primary education in Greece (1,76%)
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11. Eleni Mahera
LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION
ISCED 2
 It is obligatory and includes 3 levels
 Public or private
 There is optional Remedial Teaching
Program especially for pupils facing learning
difficulties.
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12. Eleni Mahera
LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION
ISCED 2
CATEGORISATION BASED ON TIMETABLE
DAY SCHOOLS
(8.15-14.10)
EVENING SCHOOLS
(19.20-22.55)
SECOND CHANCE
SCHOOLS
(16.30-20.30)
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13. Eleni Mahera
LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION
ISCED 2
DAY SCHOOLS (08.15-14.10)
Comprehensive schools
Intercultural education
schools
Athletic Schools
Art Schools
Musical Schools
Religious Schools
SCHOOLS
WITH SPECIAL
ORIENTATION
for foreign, repatriated,
Roma and expatriate
pupils
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14. Eleni Mahera
LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION
ISCED 2
Alternative structures
 Schools for minorities (in Thrace there are 2 minority
secondary schools and 2 Muslim theological seminaries )
 Experimental schools
 Schools for Special educational needs
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15. Eleni Mahera
LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Comprehensive School-Gymnasium
 Assessment is based on the general involvement of
the pupil in the learning process, on written tests
and, finally, on written examinations at the end of the
school year.
 Pupils who fail certain subjects must take a repeat
examination in September
 Pupils leaving Gymnasium are given a leaving
certificate which entitles them to move on to higher-
level education
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16. Eleni Mahera
LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Evening Schools(19:20-22:55)
Introduced in 1974 to accommodate the
education needs of working and adult students.
Includes 3 levels
Some subjects of “minor importance” are not
included in the curriculum (e.g. P.E, Arts)
There are 120 evening schools in lower
secondary education with 10,500 students
attending them (80% are 14-24)
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17. Eleni Mahera
LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Second Chance Schools
 public adult education schools addressed to
people older than 18 who have not finished
compulsory education
 designed to combat social exclusion of
early school leavers
 attendance is for 2 years and leads to a high
school diploma equivalent to the one acquired
in mainstream lower secondary education
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18. Eleni Mahera
LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Second Chance Schools
 Several SCSs operate within prisons with a
continuously increasing number of
applications from inmates
 The curriculum is flexible and includes Greek
and English language training, mathematics,
science, sociology, environmental awareness,
IT skills and arts. Learners also participate in
various projects and workshops of 3 to 6
months duration.
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19. Eleni Mahera
LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Second Chance Schools
 apply innovative teaching methods based
on adult learning (interdisciplinary approach,
projects, field trips, experiential learning,
counseling, emphasis on meta-cognitive skills,
descriptive assessment)
 no exams, no homework
 funded partly by European Social Funds and
the Greek State
 58 institutions all over Greece
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20. Eleni Mahera
LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Second Chance Schools
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21. Eleni Mahera
UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION
ISCED 3
After completing 9 years of compulsory
education and receiving the medium
baccalaureate students choose either to
stop or continue their secondary education.
In the public sector there are 2 options :
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22. Eleni Mahera
UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Senior High School (Lyceum)
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Senior High
School
Unified General
Lyceum
Vocational
Secondary
Education

23. Eleni Mahera
UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Unified General Lyceum
 holders of a Gymnasium leaving certificate
are admitted to the first class of the Unified
Lyceum without examinations
 emphasis on general education
 consists of three classes
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24. Eleni Mahera
UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Class 1 of the Unified Lyceum
 includes general knowledge subjects, which
constitute a common core for all pupils
Greek Language (Ancient Greek, Modern Greek
Literature), Religion, History, Maths, English,
Physical Sciences (Physics, Chemistry,
Biology), PE, Project
 There’s an extra subject of their preference:
(theatre, IT, second foreign language,
psychology)
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25. Eleni Mahera
UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Class 2 of the Unified Lyceum
 Grade B students have to choose among
three "Directions”, Theoretical, Scientific
and Technological.
 60% of the school time is allotted to general
education courses and 40% to courses
specific to the direction chosen.
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26. Eleni Mahera
UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Class 3 of the Unified Lyceum
 Grade C students of the Technological
direction have further to choose between two
"Cycles", Technical-Production and
Informatics.
 55% general courses and 45% direction
specific ones.
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27. Eleni Mahera
UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION
opportunities for graduates
1. seek employment in the public or private
sector
2. seek admission to University, by sitting the
annual national examinations
3. attend public or private Vocational Training
Institutes (IEKs) to obtain a Training
Certificate equivalent to a post-secondary
vocational training qualification.
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28. Eleni Mahera
UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Alternative structures
 Evening General Lyceums offering four-year
courses for young workers
 General Musical Lyceums
 General Ecclesiastical Lyceums
 General Sport Lyceums
 General Lyceums for multicultural education
 Special General Lyceums for pupils with
special education needs.
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29. Eleni Mahera
Vocational Lyceum
( 1 year )
Vocational Lyceum (EPA.L)
2 years
Vocational School (EPA.S)
2 years
UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Vocational Secondary Education

30. Eleni Mahera
UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Vocational Lyceum (EPA.L)
 lasts for 3 years (4 years in evening schools)
 offers: general education
vocational education
vocational training
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31. Eleni Mahera
UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Class 1 of the Vocational Lyceum
 Includes general knowledge subjects, which
constitute a common core for all pupils
(same as in Unified Lyceum) -21 hours
 Basic-skill subjects (economics, IT,
project)- 7 hours
 They have to choose a subject of one of the
three directions offered(2 hours)
I) Technological, II) Services, III) Naval
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32. Eleni Mahera
UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Class 2 of the Vocational Lyceum
 includes general knowledge subjects, which
constitute a common core for all pupils-17 hours
 Specialization subjects of the direction they
have chosen in the first grade-18 hours
(Mechanical Engineering, Electronics, Electrician,
Applied Arts, Textile and Clothing, Construction,
Economics, Agricultural Production, Aesthetics
and Hairdressing)
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33. Eleni Mahera
UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Class 3 of the Vocational Lyceum
 includes general knowledge subjects-10
hours
 Specialization subjects of the direction they
have chosen in the first grade-23 hours
 One subject of their own preference-2 hours
(history, economics, statistics, natural
resources, biology)
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34. Eleni Mahera
UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Vocational Lyceum
 After successfully completing their studies
and passing the end-of-year school exams
the candidates obtain a degree equivalent to
the one given to Unified Lyceum Graduates
 They may take the national examinations
to enter university
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35. Eleni Mahera
Vocational Lyceum
( 1 year )
Vocational Lyceum (EPA.L)
2 years
Vocational School (EPA.S)
2 years
UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Vocational Secondary Education

36. Eleni Mahera
UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Vocational School
 aims to educate students by means of the
Apprenticeship System (a European
educational system that combines in-class
education with “on-the-job training”
 aims to help the trainee acquire work
experience in actual work conditions, so that
he/she can be appropriately prepared for
his/her entry into the labour market
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37. Eleni Mahera
UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Vocational School
 It lasts 2 years
 On completion of their studies, EPAS
graduates have obtained: an EPAS
specialization diploma, corresponding to
Level III (3) plus work experience which
enables them to enter the labour market
 They cannot enter university
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38. Eleni Mahera
UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Assessment
In the 3d class of the Unified Lyceum or
Vocational Lyceum students take national
examinations, which comprise 6 compulsory
subjects depending on the type of University
or Technological Institution they want to attend.
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39. Eleni Mahera
POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
ISCED 4
 Vocational Training Institutes (IEK) provide formal
but unclassified level of education (since they
accept both high school and lyceum graduates)
 aim to provide vocational training and to ensure
that the students obtain the necessary qualifications
by imparting scientific, technical, vocational and
practical knowledge with a view to facilitating their
occupational integration
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40. Eleni Mahera
POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
Certificates awarded
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Trainees who successfully complete their training at
public and private IEKs are awarded a Vocational
Training Certificate which entitles them to take
part in the qualifying examinations leading to the
award of a Vocational Training Diploma, at the
level of post secondary (3+) vocational
training.

41. Eleni Mahera
Higher Educational
Institutes
(entrance examinations)
Technical Educational
Institutes
(entrance examination)
Lyceum (Senior High School) and
(EPA.L) Vocational Senior High School
3 years
Colleges (private)
Open University
(distance learning)
TERTIARY EDUCATION
ISCED 5

42. Eleni Mahera
 Public higher education is divided into Higher
Educational Institutions and Technological
Educational Institutions.
 Students are admitted in these institutions
depending on their performance in national
examinations taken in the third grade of lyceum
 These educational institutions are funded and under
the control of the state
TERTIARY EDUCATION
Public higher education
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43. Eleni Mahera
TERTIARY EDUCATION
Higher Education Institutes (AEI)
 Higher Education Institutes include
Universities
Polytechnics
Higher Fine Arts Institutes
 There are 23 universities in Greece located
in various towns; they consist of Faculties,
which in turn are subdivided into
Departments
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44. Eleni Mahera
TERTIARY EDUCATION
Higher Education Institutes (AEI)
 The courses last for approximately 4 years,
with the exception of certain faculties
(medical) where the course lasts even 5 or 6
years
 The academic year consists of two
semesters, with 13 weeks of lessons and
three weeks of examinations.
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45. Eleni Mahera
TERTIARY EDUCATION
Higher Education Institutes (AEI)
 Students complete their course of study after
4 years if they pass the examination of both
the compulsory and the optional subjects
 At the end of the studies they obtain a
Degree in relation to the Faculty concerned
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46. Eleni Mahera
TERTIARY EDUCATION
Technological Education Institutes
 The technology sector includes
Technological Education Institutes (TEI) and
Higher School for Teachers of
Technological Education (ΑΣΠΑΙΤΕ)
 There currently are 15 TEIs and a School for
the Technology and Pedagogy Education, in
the whole country
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47. Eleni Mahera
TERTIARY EDUCATION
Techn. Education Institutes (TEI)
 studies last for 4 years with a total of eight
semesters
 a final semester devoted to the preparation
of the thesis
 practice their profession through a training
period that will then be evaluated
 after the completion of studies, students will
receive a degree
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48. Eleni Mahera
TERTIARY EDUCATION
Hellenic Open University
 Hellenic Open University was founded in 1992
and is located in Patra
 its students are admitted from the age of 22
after a draw
 provides an opportunity for open and distance
learning
 HOU's basic mission is to provide greater
educational opportunities to a wide spectrum of
interested parties and age groups48

49. Eleni Mahera
TERTIARY EDUCATION
Hellenic Open University
 Curriculum based on distance-learning
method
 awards a degree equivalent to that of the
"traditional" Universities.
 offers under-graduate and post-graduate
courses and continuing education
programmes, which lead to certificate of
attendance
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50. Eleni Mahera
TERTIARY EDUCATION
Private higher education
 colleges collaborating with foreign
universities can offer undergraduate and
postgraduate programmes of study in Greece,
under the proper registration with the Greek
Ministry of Education
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51. Eleni Mahera
POST-GRADUATE STUDIES
(Master)
 In Greece post-graduate studies lead to the
award of a Post-graduate Diploma of
Specialisation.
 Greek Universities offer a total of 213 post-
graduate courses
 Courses last at least one calendar year
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52. Eleni Mahera
DOCTORAL STUDIES (PhD)
 lead to the award of a Doctorate.
 last a minimum of 3 years
 At the end of the study period there is a written
thesis that is discussed publicly in front of a
committee of seven academic professors
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53. Eleni Mahera
Thank you 
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