1. 13th GYMNASIUM
OF HERAKLION

2. 2

3. AGE
STRUCTURE OF THE GREEK EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
T
E L
Postgraduate studies
R
T 22-24 Greek Open University A
(long lasting education) B
I
A O
R
Y
R
Technologi
E UNIVERSITIES cal
D Institution
U 18
C s M
A I.T.V.T A
TI
O 18 R
N K
E.P.A.L E
Lycee,Senior High T
S school Entity
• C 2nd course
E • Eccl/cal 1st course
C • Music B (complete)
O • Sports and
N A B class
15 • special
A A class
R
Y 15
E
D.
Gymnasium-Junior High School
12 General,Music,Ecclesiastical,Sports,Special)
TIMETABLE
12
P 6 Elementary schools( ordinary,day-long,special)
R
I
M 6
A
R
Y
Infant Nursery schools (ordinary,day-long,special)
classes
E
D. 4
Day
nurseries
3
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4. The bell rings at 8.15 in the morning. The students should gather at the back school yard
and announcements are announced by the Principle. Then ,they get into class.
There are seven teaching periods everyday .Look at the following diagram.
Diagram 1.
DAILY TIMETABLE
( from 8.30 a.m to 14.00 hours)
TEACHING PERIODS. BREAKS
1 8.15-8.55 a.m 8.55a.m to 9.00a.m
2 9.00a.m -9.50 a.m 9.50 a.m to 10.00 a.m
3 10.00 a.m to 10.45 a.m 10.45 a.m to 10.55 a.m
4 10.55a.m to 11.35 a.m 11.35a.m to11.45 a.m
5 11.45a.m to12.25 a.m 12.25a.m to 12.30 a.m
6 12.30 to 13.15 13.15 to 13.25
7 13.25 to 14.00 Teaching periods are finished.
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5. Diagram 2: School subjects.
In the following diagram you can see the school subjects and the frequency they are taught
weekly.
SCHOOL SUBJECTS CLASS
A B C
Religion 2hours 2hours 1hour
History 2hours 2hours 3hours
Mathematics 4hours 4hours 4hours
Physics 3 hours 3hours
Biology 1 2hours - -
Chemistry 3hours 3hours
Geography 2hours 2 hours -
1st foreign language-English (compulsory) hours
3 2hours 2hours
2nd foreign language-either 3hours 2hours 2hours
German,French or Italian (optional)
P.E (physical education) 3hours 3hours 2hours
Home Economy 1hour 2hours
Social and Political Education - - 2hours
Modern Greek Literature/language 5hours 4hours 4hours
Ancient Greek(original,translated) 5hours 5hours 5hours
Biology 2 - - 2hours
Technology 2hours 2hours 1hour
C Computer Science 2hours 2hours 2hours
Music 1hour 1hour 1hour
Art 2hours 2hours 2hours
Moreover there is a subject, called School Job Orientation, that is neither taught nor
assessed in year three,class C.The objective goal of it, is to have the students oriented on the
situation of job market and the types of schools that are available and also are included in
the secondary level education, so that they can choose what type to follow as soon as they
graduate gymnasium.Class is divided in two, in this case. Half of the students are taught
either technology or computer science. A class is also divided in two at the time of computer
science and technology in 1st and 2nd year(class A,B).Also Greek language teaching is divided
into four branches that is:
Modern Greek language, Modern Greek literature,Ancient Greek (translated original
texts),Ancient Greek( original texts)
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6. CROSS –curricular issues:
Sexual education, does not officially included in the state curriculum as an
autonomous subject but teachers of biology always have the opportunity to say things to
their students related to it.
As far as the drug addiction and racism concerns , there is only piecemeal
information either in case the teacher is motivated by a text or the subjects he teaches.
Furthermore the teaching of a matter like this, drug addiction, is not officially allowed by
the ministry of education. But there can be a reference and a discussion on the matter,
not only to the students but the parents as well, under the umbrella of the extra
curriculum activities.
Not serious problems of violence have to cope with. School violence or “Bulling”has been
noticed lately but it is not the way it is in other European countries or U.S.A. We have to
cope only with teenagers behavior and problems.
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7. DISCIPLINE ,CLASS MANAGEMENT SCHOOL RULES
“The goal of the students’ board regulations, is that ,the real meaning and character
of it, to be re-established and shown off , into democratic institutions, where all
students working together ,can have their creative skills released .They can also
realize what their responsibilities and their duties are in the daily school routine,
through common effort and collective spirit and at the same time, their responsibility
will be developed and their rights will be strengthened.”
This is what the ministry of education and generally the Greek constitution claims as
far as the students board concerns.
Students’ elections are always held at the beginning of the school year by the end of
October.
First, the class board is elected and it is a procedure that takes place in each class
where students vote the ones they believe they can be represented by, to the Principle,
whenever it is needed so. This board is consisted by 5 regular members and 2 non-
voting members. The teacher in charge of a certain class, can talk with his/her
students and set the class management rules on, together.These rules should be
followed by all teachers and students of the class.
After that, a week later , the whole school board is elected by the students in
general.
This board is consisted by 15 regular members.
There is an internal chart of discipline regulations, that has to be followed by
students in cooperation with their teachers ,so that school can work as good as
possible.
They have to cooperate with the teachers’ board, in order to protect the school
property, to keep school clean, to get into class on time as soon as bell rings. Also they
have to get out of the classroom at breaks.They can also discuss and cooperate with
their teachers and the Principle on any matter that may show up, that is concerned
important either as far as the teaching procedure concerns , or the school
management , so that students can be benefited afterall.
Students must respect not only their teacher but respect each other.They have to be
accurate on coming in the class on time, take part in learning process, be quiet while
the teacher is teaching and keep their class clean and tidy.They are not allowed to eat
,drink or chewgum in class.
Teacher can send a student out of class if he /she thinks that is prevented doing
his/her job properly. Student then, gets an absence and is sent to the Headmistress
office .
If something very serious takes place the “guilty” student or students are taken to the
teachers’ board where the students must explain the reasons why they had acted
acted they way had .The students’ representatives can be present and support their
classmates.
Finally a punishment is given over the student after the teachers had discussed all
options,
had suggested and had voted.
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8. PAYING attention to diversity.
There are disabled students from time to time and we can say that they are treated
well by their classmates who are already aware how to cope with such a matter.
Students have already known about equality in diversity.They accept it and they
respect it.
There are students with special learning difficulties at school, who attend the special
class of incorporation of students with special learning difficulties.These students
should leave the “normal” class at the time of the subjects of Greek,(ancient Greek
and Modern Greek)
Science and Mathematics are taught and attend the special one ,with a teacher who
is aware of special teaching methods and strategies so that can cope with the
students’ needs.
In our town there are special schools ,where students can attend special classes like
ones for students with hearing problems, mentality problems and blind
students.These classes are included in a regular school,so there is a mixed ability
school community where students can share a common daily school routine .
Students Social Background
Since our school situated in one of the most prosperous suburbs of the town, our
students come mostly from moneyed families.
Most parents are well educated, (teachers,doctors,politicians,businessmen/women
e.t.c) so we have to cope with problems such us spoiling and parents interference. On
the other hand there is a great number of clever students that make our work easier.
There are students from other countries as well ,students whose one parent comes
either from a European country or from Asia ,Albania and from Balkan
countries.Diversity is strongly stressed either through school activities or projects and
discussion taken place in class.Fortunately not any racism phenomenons have been
noticed so far.
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9. Diagram 3: School administration-organization.
SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATION
HEADMISTRESS
1st ASSISTANT MANAGER
2nd ASSISTANT MANAGER
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10. Diagram 4:
PERMANENT STAFF AT SCHOOL TEMPORAL
1 GREEK LITERATURE/ LANGUAGE 14 1
2 MATHEMATICIANS 4 1
3 SCIENCE/ CHEMISTRY 3 2
4 RELIGION 2 2
5 ENGLISH LANGUAGE 2 1
6 FRENCH LANGUAGE 1
7 ITALIAN LANGUAGE 2
8 PHYSICAL EDUCATION 3 1
9 ARTS 1
10 SOCIAL / POLITICAL EDUCATION 1
11 HOME ECONOMY 1 1
12 MUSIC 2
13 TECHNOLOGY 1 2
14 COMPUTER SCIENCE 2 1
TOTAL 39 16
TOTAL 55
It’s good to be mentioned that there aren’t any subject consultors in each school
autonomously, but there are such, who supervise teachers and schools within the prefecture
,whenever they think it is necessary to do it. Their role is purely a consultive one,just to help
and consult teachers on any new teaching methods may appear either through special seminars
or by show up himself personally.
In other words there is an English Language consultor, consultor for Mathematics and so on.
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11. Diagram 5:
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
EXTRA
CURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH- CULTURAL-
NATIONAL
EDUCATION CONSUMER’S CELEBRATIONS-
FESTIVITIES
EDUCATION
The above activities take place at school when the regular curricular activities and
subjects
finish. It is not compulsory neither for students nor for teachers. In this case only a small
number of students take part , that is, only those who are interested in the subject.
Students are given the chance to go on school trips not only in Greece but abroad
too.They had already visited the European Parliament in Brussels, Strasbourg and
Luxemburg, Cyprus, Germany.
School joined many National Net School Projects.
Furthermore a film club has been running at school for 16 years where students can
watch films chosen by the teacher of P.E. Also, students with special skills in Maths,
Music, Arts ,Sports can take part in competitions organized by either state or private
institutions and associations. There is a female team of volley ball, a male football and
basketball team that take part in the Prefecture school champion Cup having been
distinguished many times.
Generally ,our school is one of the most famous in Heraklion due to the well trained staff
and the running of many projects.
Three times a year, some National Festivities take place. On October 28th ( the Greeks
held against Mousolini and the Germans- National Resistance), March 25th (Greek
Revolution 1821 started ) and November 17th ( a stand was made against the Junta by
students which was finally joined by the population in total).These dates are also
National Holidays celebrated not only within the boundaries of the Greek state but
wherever in the world there are Greek communities.On January 30th it is a school and
religion holiday only, dedicated to the three Saints Gregory ,Ioannis and Chrisostomos
who are the Patrons of Education and Literacy.
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12. PARENTS BOARD: It is consisted of five members which are elected by parents.
They cooperate not only with the students board but the teachers and the principle too.
Their goal is to protect their children’s –students rights whenever they think is necessary
.They can also keep an eye not only on the good school management but individually on
each one teacher’s personality and attitude in class so that can interfere. They can
suggest things, to improve or make teachers’ work easier, such as individual behaviour
management in class ,parents seminars e.tc. They contribute with money in buying
teaching aids.
Diagram 6:
ASSESSMENT
TRIMESTERS
1st ( from September 11th to November 30th )
2nd (from December 1st to the end of February)
3rd ( March 1st to May 15th )
The academic year is divided into three trimesters, as it is shown in the diagram below.
Apart from the daily oral participation and the short regular tests, students must be
given written tests within the time limits of each trimester. Written tests are compulsory
in the first two trimesters whereas in the last it is optional for the teacher to decide
whether to give the students ones or not.
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13. FINAL EXAMINATIONS
The most hard and toughest school period of all, for gymnasium students is the one from
May 19th to June 15th when they have to be examined on the whole ( 2/3?) curriculum having
been taught so far.
A student can pass the class ( year) according to the marks he had picked in total ,during the
trimesters assessment, added the final examinations divided to four. The result should be 9.5
otherwise the student should repeat the exams in September.
e.g A student gets in Mathematics : 1st trimester 10
2nd trimester 10
3rd trimester 12
Final examinations, 06
In total he gets 38 divided to 4 he gets 9.5 and he passes .If he gets 35 in total divided to 4 he
gets 8.7 so he fails.
Of course there are certain rules set on by the Ministry of Education that have to be
followed in consideration ,as far as each student’s annual attendance concerns.Look at the
diagram below:
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14. STUDENT ATTENDANCE
Annual amount of abcences: 114 ( 50 of them should be justified by either a parent
or a doctor )
64 can be non-justified.
There are certain regulations concerning the attendance matter that should be studied in
details in advance before any final decision is taken by the board of the teachers.
Each student case is completely different and should be studied seriously for his own
good. If the case follows the state rules then the student could have the right to sit the
exams either in May –June period or in September when the exams are repeated so that
students have another chance to pass the class-year.
TEACHING METHODS
Some years ago things were completely different in the Greek educational system.Teacher
was the center of the teaching procedure.Students were mostly more passive in class.
The general option of new teaching methods is to get students involved more and more,
particularly the “ bad” ones. Furthermore new teaching methods are based on the holistic
approach that is focused on student’s psychosociosentimental hypostasis. So that new
teaching methods and approaching followed at school have to do with group work, projects
,and student’s initiative.
Especially in foreign languages ,the European Framework is followed.
Pedagogical procedure should be pleasant and creative giving the students the chance to
express their objections and ideas.In this way self confidence is improved and those students
who are kept aside due to low confidence are got involved and feel more useful and
productive either in school community or in their family environment.
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15. A booklet of information about the educational system in
GREECE
Table of contents
Structure of the Greek educational system…………………………………………………3
Timetable:……………………………………………………………………………… .4
Subjects…………………………………………………………………………………….5
Cross-curricular issues.Ex:sexual education,drug addiction,domestic/gender violence …..6
Discipline,classroom management and school rules………………………………………7
Paying attention to diversity(new arrivals to school; blind ,deaf and handicapped
students;……………………………………………………………………………………8
Social backround)…………………………………………………………………………..8
School organization ……………………………………………………………………….9-10
Extra curricular activities…………………………………………………………………..11
Parents Board Assessment…………………………………………………………………12
Final examination……………………………………………………………………………13
Student Attendance Teaching Methods………………………………………………….14
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