THE GREEK EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEM
SEPTEMBER 2010
GENERAL
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Formal education is characterized by a fixed length
of study, repetition and – when finishing – a degree
which is officially recognized by the Greek State
The classification of educational institutions include
the need for proof of degree (baccalaureate,
diploma, etc.) of the previous level of study in order
to pursue to the next level
It is a grid of complicated, multilevel and diverse
educational services
EDUCATION IS :
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Obligatory for all children among 6 – 15 years old (that is the
Primary School and the lower Secondary School)
Children ‘ s school life may begin at the age of 2,5 years old
(pre – primary education) in nursery schools (public or private)
Post-compulsory Secondary Education, according to the reform
of 1997, including two school types: unified upper secondary
schools and the Technical Vocational Schools. Attendance last
three years at Lyceums and two years (study) or three years
(course) in the Technical Vocational Education and travel are
not mutually exclusive from one school to another
STAGES/ TYPES
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Special kindergartens, primary, lower secondary and
upper secondary classes for pupils with special
educational needs
Music, Sports and Religious High Schools
Vocational Training Institutes are also included in
post – compulsory education and provide formal but
unclassified level of education ( the reason of that is
that they accept both high school and lyceum
graduates, depending on the particular specialties
they offer )
STAGES/ TYPES
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Public higher education is divided into Higher
Educational Institutions and Technological
Educational Institutions. Students are admitted in
these institutions depends on their performance in
national examinations taken in the second and third
grade of lyceum
Hellenic Open University was founded in 1992 and
its students are admitted from the age of 22 years
old after a draw
Private schools in all educational levels
STAGES/ TYPES
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Minority schools (enter all students whose
parents are Muslims, residents of the area
where the school is located and want their
children to attend those schools )
Cross - cultural schools (for foreign,
repatriated, Roma and expatriate pupils )
Special Schools ( for people with special
educational needs, aged between 4 – 22
years old )
STAGES/ TYPES
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Adult Education Centres ( their educational
programs address to all adult citizens, 18
years and over )
Second Chance Schools ( for citizens 18
years and over who have not completed
compulsory lower secondary education )
The following diagram outlines the structure of the Greek Educational
System as established by institutions of formal, classified and
unclassified education.
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT &
LEARNING ATMOSPHERE
The last years there have been great efforts in order
to modernize the whole educational system
 New material, new books and a whole new way for
teachers to teach and approach pupils
 Emphasis and priority is given to the student
BUT:
 It seems that from the first years of attending
students are being prepared for the exam nationwide
and membership in a senior or higher education…
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AS A CONCLUSION
Children become especially competing to
one another
 Getting used in “chasing” good grades
(sometimes with the cost of losing the real
meaning of learning)
 If someone does not “make it to the end” that
may lead to another excluded group called
“ FAILED”
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Thank you