1. GREECE Educational System

2. Education in Greece Ministry for Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs Ministry for Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs National education budget (2010) National education budget (2010) National education budget National education budget 12,08 billion € (public) 4% of GDP 12,08 billion € (public) 4% of GDP€GDP€GDP Literacy Literacy Literacy Total 98% Male 99% Female 97% Total 98% Male 99% Female 97% Enrollment Enrollment Total: 1,426,175 Total: 1,426,175 Primary: 786,025 Primary: 786,025 Secondary: 360,248 Secondary: 360,248 Post Secondary: 276,902 Post Secondary: 276,902

3. Three Levels The Greek educational system is mainly divided into three levels: GreekeducationalGreekeducational primary, primary, secondary and secondary and tertiary, with an additional post- secondary level providing vocational training. tertiary, with an additional post- secondary level providing vocational training.

4. Three Levels Primary education is divided into kindergarten lasting one or two years, and primary school spanning six years (ages 6 to 12). Primary education is divided into kindergarten lasting one or two years, and primary school spanning six years (ages 6 to 12). Secondary education comprises two stages: Secondary education comprises two stages: Gymnasio (variously translated as Middle or Junior High School), a compulsory three-year school, after which students can attend Lykeio (an academically- oriented High School) or Vocational training. Gymnasio (variously translated as Middle or Junior High School), a compulsory three-year school, after which students can attend Lykeio (an academically- oriented High School) or Vocational training.GymnasioLykeioVocational trainingGymnasioLykeioVocational training Higher Tertiary education is provided by Universities and Polytechnics, Technological Educational Institutes and Academies which primarily cater for the military and the clergy. Higher Tertiary education is provided by Universities and Polytechnics, Technological Educational Institutes and Academies which primarily cater for the military and the clergy.

5. Primary Education Elementary schools are called "Dimotiká" (demotic, meaning municipal), a carryover term from a time when such schools were run by local communities. The name remains although it has been obsolete for decades. In the first two years pupils are not officially graded, and parents obtain feedback about their performance via oral communications with teachers.

6. Primary Education Grading begins in Year 3, and written exams are introduced in Year 5. Years are called "classes", from first to sixth: Year 1 : age 6 to 7 Year 2 : age 7 to 8 Year 3 : age 8 to 9 Year 4 : age 9 to 10 Year 5 : age 10 to 11 Year 6 : age 11 to 12

7. Primary Education Basic subjects: Modern Greek Language (9 hours/week) Modern Greek Language (9 hours/week) Modern Greek Literature (2 hours/week) Modern Greek Literature (2 hours/week) Mathematics (5 hours/week) Mathematics (5 hours/week) Environmental Studies (2-4 hours/week) Environmental Studies (2-4 hours/week) Physical Education (4 hours/week) Physical Education (4 hours/week) Music (2 hours/week) Music (2 hours/week) Art (2 hours/week) Art (2 hours/week) Computer Studies (2 hours/week) Computer Studies (2 hours/week) Theatrical Studies (1 hour/week) Theatrical Studies (1 hour/week) Flexible Zone (3 hours/week) Flexible Zone (3 hours/week) English (2-4 hours/week) English (2-4 hours/week)

8. Additional Subjects: Physics (2 hours/week years 5 and 6) Physics (2 hours/week years 5 and 6) Geography (2 hours/week years 5 and 6) Geography (2 hours/week years 5 and 6) History (2 hours/week years 3-6) History (2 hours/week years 3-6) Religion (2 hours/week years 3-6) Religion (2 hours/week years 3-6) Social & Political Studies (2 hours/week years 5 and 6) Social & Political Studies (2 hours/week years 5 and 6) Second Foreign Language (2 hours/week years 5 and 6) Second Foreign Language (2 hours/week years 5 and 6) Grading System: 1st Year: no grades 1st Year: no grades 2nd Year: no grades 2nd Year: no grades 3rd Year: A-E 3rd Year: A-E 4th Year: A-E 4th Year: A-E 5th Year: 1-10 5th Year: 1-10 6th Year: 1-10 6th Year: 1-10 Primary Education

9. Secondary Education Gymnasium - Middle / Secondary School (compulsory education) –1st grade, age 12 to 13 –2nd grade, age 13 to 14 –3rd grade, age 14 to 15 Starts on September 11th and ends on June 15th to 18th. The lessons end in the second week of May so that the students will be able to study for their examinations between May and June. The classes start at 8.15 and end from 13.45 to 14.15 according to the type of school. Classes last from 30 min. to 45 min. and there are breaks of 10 and 5 minutes between them. Every month each school is obliged to take the students for a walk (περίπατος) and an educational excursion to a museum or theater etc. In the end of the year each school is obliged to organise 3 school trips, one for the students of the 2nd year for 3-4 days, one for the students of the 3rd year for 3-5 days and for all of the students which lasts one day. The schools usually organise trips to islands like Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, Corfu or abroad in European cities like Paris, London, Barcelona, Lemesos, Valetta, Rome, Milan, Vienna, Berlin, etc.

10. There are 6 types of gymnasiums in Greece: General Gymnasium (entering there from the primary school is automatic) General Gymnasium (entering there from the primary school is automatic) Athletic Gymnasium (to enter this type of school students must pass certain exams on a sport like basketball, football, volleyball, gymnastics, polo, swimming etc) Athletic Gymnasium (to enter this type of school students must pass certain exams on a sport like basketball, football, volleyball, gymnastics, polo, swimming etc) Musical Gymnasium (to enter this type of school students must pass certain exams on a musical instrument) Musical Gymnasium (to enter this type of school students must pass certain exams on a musical instrument) Art Gymnasium Art Gymnasium Experimental Gymnasium Experimental Gymnasium Church Gymnasium Church Gymnasium Secondary Education

11. There are much more subjects in the Greek Gymnasiums: Modern Greek Language (2 hours/week) Modern Greek Language (2 hours/week) Modern Greek Literature (2 hours/week) Modern Greek Literature (2 hours/week) Ancient Greek Language (3 hours/week) Ancient Greek Language (3 hours/week) Ancient Greek Literature (Homer Odyssey-1st Year, Homer Iliad-2nd Year, Euripides Helen-3rd Year), (2 hours/week) Ancient Greek Literature (Homer Odyssey-1st Year, Homer Iliad-2nd Year, Euripides Helen-3rd Year), (2 hours/week) Mathematics (4 hours/week) Mathematics (4 hours/week) Physics (2 hours/week and only for years 2 and 3) Physics (2 hours/week and only for years 2 and 3) Chemistry (1 hour/week and for years 2 and 3) Chemistry (1 hour/week and for years 2 and 3) Biology (2 hours/week and for years 1 and 3) Biology (2 hours/week and for years 1 and 3) Social and Political Studies (2 hours/week and for year 3) Social and Political Studies (2 hours/week and for year 3) Secondary Education

12. Physical Education (2 hours/week) Physical Education (2 hours/week) Art (1 hour/week) Art (1 hour/week) Music (1 hour/week) Music (1 hour/week) History (2 hours/week for years 1&2 and 3 hours/week for year 3) History (2 hours/week for years 1&2 and 3 hours/week for year 3) Religion (2 hours/week) Religion (2 hours/week) Computer Studies (1 hour/week) Computer Studies (1 hour/week) Technology (1 hour/week and for years 1&2) Technology (1 hour/week and for years 1&2) English (2 hours/week) English (2 hours/week) 2nd foreign language (German, French and Italian) 2 hours/week) 2nd foreign language (German, French and Italian) 2 hours/week) School Vocational Guidance (1 hour/week) School Vocational Guidance (1 hour/week) Economics (1 hour/week for year 1 and 2 hours/week for year 2) Economics (1 hour/week for year 1 and 2 hours/week for year 2) Geography (2 hours/week) Geography (2 hours/week) Secondary Education

13. General Lyceum - High School On April 2011, the Minister of Education, Lifelong learning and Religious affairs officially announced the recreation of the General Lyceum. On September 12th 2011 the new system was introduced to the new students of the 1st grade of General Lyceum. 1st grade, age 15 to 16 The subjects: Greek Language (Ancient Greek, Modern Greek Literature and Composition - 9 hours/week) Greek Language (Ancient Greek, Modern Greek Literature and Composition - 9 hours/week) Religion (2 hours/week) Religion (2 hours/week) Ancient History (2 hours/week) Ancient History (2 hours/week) Maths (5 hours/week) Maths (5 hours/week) English (3 hours/week) English (3 hours/week) Physical Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology - 6 hours/week) Physical Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology - 6 hours/week) PE (3 hours/week) PE (3 hours/week) Project (3 hours/week) Project (3 hours/week) Secondary Education

14. Private Schools There is a wide range of private schools in Greece. 6% of students who attend compulsory education (the highest percent in the European Union) study in Private Schools. Tuition fees start from 1.500 euros to 13.000 euros according to the school and the year.