Greece The Greek Educational System

FREE OF CHARGE AND MANDATORY According to the Greek Constitution, the government is required to offer free of charge and mandatory educational services for all children from 6 to 15 years old (in other words, a mandatory 9-year educational system).

A. A.KΙΝDERGARDEN (5 years old) Children go to the Kindergarden at the age of 5, for one year. It is possible that a child can go to the Kindergarden at the age of 4 (pre-Kindergarden) and then, Kindergarden follows. So the child attends a two-year cycle there. But this is not mandatory. The curriculum in Kindergarten aims to prepare pupils for the first grade and the years to follow.

B. PRIMARY SCHOOL (6-12 years old) At the age of 6, pupils enter the Primary School (Dimotikό in Greek) for six years. Children are classified to 6 grades (classes) according to their age. A class for 6-7 years old, B class for 7-8, C class for 8-9, D class for 9-10, E class for 10-11, and ST class for

Lessons start at 08:10 and end at 14:00. The curriculum has a big variety of lesson that must be taught, according to the grade, such as the Greek language, mathematics, physics, music education, computer science, physical education, religious education, geography, social and political education, study of our environment, art lesson, drama education, English, and French or German language.

After the morning lessons in most of the schools there is an optional additional zone for children who want to stay longer and have home-prepared lunch, do their homework, etc. There is an extra teacher for this school zone. This additional zone ends at 15:30-16:00.

C. JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL (12-15 years old) After Primary School, pupils register at the High School (Gymnasion in Greek). The Junior High School has 3 grades, class A (12-13 years), class B (13-14 years) and C class (14-15). This is the last part of the mandatory educational service offered. At the end of each class there are exams for every lesson taught.

AFTER Junior High School At the end of the Junior High School, pupils have several options. They may continue to the Senior High School (Lykeion in Greek), in order to acquire a general and comprehensive education in order to enter University. Or, they may opt to follow the first cycle of training and/or vocational education in Technical-Vocational Educational Institutes (T.E.E.).

D. SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL LYKEION (15-18 years old) In the first year of Lykeion, pupils follow a common curriculum of higher level which aims to broaden their general knowledge. At the end of the first year, students may opt to follow a more technical/vocational training and switch to the T.E.E. Similary, T.E.E. students may register in the 2nd grade of Lykeio following the successful completion of the first year of technical training.

After the succesful competion of the 3 rd year of Lykeio, students participate in general pan-hellenic examinations in order to enter Universities, Technological Educational Institutions, Military Academies, Merchant Marine Academies and other post- secondary schools. Students from the T.E.E. also participate in pan-hellenic exams for entrance to the Technological Educational Institutions.

E. HIGHER EDUCATION Higher Educational Institutes are consisted of two parallel sectors: the Universities (A.E.I.) and the Higher Technological Educational Institutes (T.E.I.). In addition, colleges collaborating with foreign universities can offer undergraduate and postgraduate UK foreign programmes of study in Greece, under the proper registration with the Greek Ministry of Education.

UNIVERSITY In Greece there are many Universities sited in the biggest Greek cities. Each University has many departments which vary from one University to the other. Students attend 4 years (in some departments 5 years and in Medical School 6 years), and then, after having taken exams in each lesson successfully and having done a diplomatic work, they get a degree or a diploma.

HIGHER TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES (T.E.I.). There are also many T.E.I. in many large Greek cities with various departments. The educational level is not as high as in a University. Students attend 3,5 years and then, after having taken exams in each lesson successfully and having done a student work, they get a degree.

ACADEMIES There are several academies which primarily cater for the military and the clergy. The years needed for the studies vary. In the military academy students get paid and they follow a military way of life since the first day.

F. POST-UNIVERSITY STUDIES Post-graduate (MSc level) studies last 1-2 years. They used to be free of charge but the last 5 years only a few have remained without fees. Doctorals (PhD level) last 3 years the minimum. No fees yet.