Organisation of the Education System in Greece Torino, Nov. 2009

Phases of education I. Pre- primary education II. Compulsory education III. Post-compulsory education (upper- and post- secondary level) (upper- and post- secondary level) I. Higher education

I. Pre-primary education Children aged 4 to 6 years may attend public or private kindergartens Children aged 4 to 6 years may attend public or private kindergartens Kindergarten attendance is compulsory for all 5 year olds Kindergarten attendance is compulsory for all 5 year olds it remains optional for 4 year olds. it remains optional for 4 year olds.

I. Pre-primary education Education and care for children 4 years of age and under is provided at child and/or at infant centres– the latter from 6 months of age Education and care for children 4 years of age and under is provided at child and/or at infant centres– the latter from 6 months of age Attendance is optional for this age group Attendance is optional for this age group

II. Compulsory education … for the age cohort 5-15 years, is divided into the following levels: … for the age cohort 5-15 years, is divided into the following levels: pre-primary school (5-6) pre-primary school (5-6) primary school (6-12) primary school (6-12) lower secondary school (12-15) (γυμνάσιο) lower secondary school (12-15) (γυμνάσιο)

III. Post-compulsory education (upper secondary level) general upper secondary schools, (15-18 ), provide general/academic studies (λύκεο) vocational upper secondary schools, (15-18), combine general education with technical-vocational studies

vocational education training schools, offer a two-year course organized according to occupational area, which may extend to three years if on-the-job training is provided (16-18), offer a two-year course organized according to occupational area, which may extend to three years if on-the-job training is provided Evening schools : offer a 4 year part-time course for working students from the age of 16 years and upwards. Evening schools : offer a 4 year part-time course for working students from the age of 16 years and upwards.

( III. Post-compulsory education (post-secondary level) Post-secondary non-tertiary, Post-secondary non-tertiary, vocational training institutes, (18-19) (Instituta Epagelmatikis Katartissis-IEK) vocational training institutes, (18-19) (Instituta Epagelmatikis Katartissis-IEK) They offer 2-4 semesters of initial vocational training

Organizational Variations and Alternative Structures/Types of schools 1) 1)Cross-cultural Education Sch. 2) 2)Minority Sch. 3)Ecclesiastical Sch. 4) 4)Music Sch. 5) 5)Artistic Sch. 6) 6)Physical Education Sch. 7) 7)Experimental Sch. 8) 8)Special Education Sch. 9) 9)Second Chance Sch.

1. Cross-cultural Education Schools aim: to assist secondary school pupils from abroad with educational, cultural or instructional particularities to be integrated into the education system

2. Minority Schools aim: to cover the education needs of the Muslims living in the geographic region of Thrace minority lower and upper secondary education schools a bilingual (Greek and Turkish) curriculum is implemented

3. Ecclesiastical Schools aim: aim: to educate and train their pupils and students by equipping them with the values of the Orthodox Christianity faith to educate and train their pupils and students by equipping them with the values of the Orthodox Christianity faith

4. Music Schools aim : aim : to educate and train pupils who wish to pursue a career in music to educate and train pupils who wish to pursue a career in music provide a high level of general education provide a high level of general education

5. Artistic Schools aim: to encourage and support the interest of pupils in the Arts and to prepare young people who wish to pursue a career in: Theatre-Cinema, Dance, Visual Arts while providing at the same time a high level of general education

7. Experimental Schools aim at the: practical and pedagogic training of the educational staff practical and pedagogic training of the educational staff the experimental application of programmes and teaching methods the experimental application of programmes and teaching methods the experimental use of textbooks, audiovisuals and other means of educational technology the experimental use of textbooks, audiovisuals and other means of educational technology

8. Special Education Education for students with disabilities and special educational needs is provided in either mainstream or special schools: extends from the preschool years to the age of 23 compulsory and based on a coeducation or integration model compulsory and based on a coeducation or integration model

Special Education According to the type and degree of disability According to the type and degree of disability mainstream schools attending either the regular classroom with parallel support or special sections/classes mainstream schools attending either the regular classroom with parallel support or special sections/classes Special Education Schools which cover pre-school, primary and secondary education levels including vocational education Special Education Schools which cover pre-school, primary and secondary education levels including vocational education

9. Second Chance Schools for individuals of 18 years of age or more who have not completed their nine-year compulsory education. for individuals of 18 years of age or more who have not completed their nine-year compulsory education.

Innovative Educational Acts Key priority: creation of “Smart schools” i.e. improvement of educational provision at schools & remedy of long standing school buildings incorporating bio-climatic principles and modern energy practices

Innovative Educational Acts current policies and goals rest on 5 pillars: Human-centered education Environmental education Digital convergence Multilingualism- promotion of the Greek language abroad Arts & Cultural education

Cross Thematic Curriculum Framework of Educational Programmess an inter-disciplinary framework is applied in the Compulsory Education Curriculum an inter-disciplinary framework is applied in the Compulsory Education Curriculum aim: to promote the inter-disciplinary approach of knowledge through methodologies of experience and participation aim: to promote the inter-disciplinary approach of knowledge through methodologies of experience and participation

Higher education Structure: Higher education consists of two parallel sectors:   the University sector : Universities Polytechnics Fine Arts Schools Open University   the Technological sector: Technological Education Institutions

Access to Higher Education Entrance depends on: Entrance depends on: the general score obtained by Lyceum graduates on the Certificate on the number of available places (numerus clausus) on the candidates' ranked preferences among schools and sections through national-scale exams!

Administration of Education The general organization and administration of the education system presents the following hierarchical structure: The general organization and administration of the education system presents the following hierarchical structure: Ministry of Education Ministry of Education 13 Primary and Secondary Education Regional Directorates 13 Primary and Secondary Education Regional Directorates Primary and Secondary Education Directorates and Offices at Prefectural Regional level Primary and Secondary Education Directorates and Offices at Prefectural Regional level School units School units

General Administration at National Level the Ministry of Education oversees the administration of all schools through its Central and Regional Services

General Administration at Regional Level In the context of administrative decentralization and the reinforcement of the periphery, Administration is exercised: at a Regional Level by the Regional Education Directorates at a prefectural level, by the Directorates and the Primary and Secondary Education Offices, Regional Service Councils & Education Committees

General Administration of Primary and Secondary Education at Regional Level The 13 Regional Education Directorates relate directly to the Minister of Education The 13 Regional Education Directorates relate directly to the Minister of Education and consist of the following Departments: and consist of the following Departments: a. Administration, a. Administration, b. Scientific-Pedagogic Guidance of Primary Education b. Scientific-Pedagogic Guidance of Primary Education c. Scientific-Pedagogic Guidance of Secondary Education c. Scientific-Pedagogic Guidance of Secondary Education

Under the Regional Education Directorates come: Directorates of Primary and Secondary Ed. School Advisors of all levels Regional Training Centers Diagnostic, Evaluation and Support Centers Regional Support & Educational Planning Cent. Environnemental Education Centers Youth Consulting Centers Natural Sciences Laboratory Centers ICT Centers

Ongoing debates and reforms The most recent reforms have focused on the modernization of the institutional framework The National Council of Primary and Secondary Education convened in March of 2009 with an agenda to conduct a public dialogue leading to proposals on the development of: secondary education – with the reform of the Lyceum and the system of entry to tertiary education as priorities.

Thank you for your attention! Alkistis Zervopoulou Logothetidi

References Eurydice-Network on Education system and policies in Europe-EACEA, [online], available at: /index_en.php /index_en.php Ministry of Education, Life long Learning and Religious Affairs [online],available at: