Greek education system

Levels of Education
Compulsory Education

Post-Compulsory Education

1.

Pre-primary education (4-5
years)

1.

General upper secondary
schools (16-18 years)

2.

Primary education (6-12 years)

2.

Vocational upper secondary
schools (16-18 years)

3.

Lower secondary general
education (13-15 years)

3.

Post-secondary non-tertiary
institutes-IEK (18+ years)

Pre-primary education


Children aged 4 years may attend public or private
pre-primary schools (nipiagogeia). Pre-primary
attendance is compulsory for all five-year-old
children; it remains optional, however, for fouryear old children.



Education and care for children under 4 years of
age is provided at child centers (paidikoi stathmoi)
Attendance is optional for this age group.
Municipal/community child centers are run by the
local municipalities and communities.

Primary education(1)





Primary education is provided in primary schools
for children aged from 6 up to 12 years old.
Primary schools are divided into one-teacher, twoteacher schools etc up to six-teacher schools or
twelve teacher schools, depending on the number
of regular employees.
In all grades of primary school are taught Modern
Greek Language, Mathematics, Arts Education,
Physical Education and Information and
Communication Technology

Primary education(2)


In primary education apart from the typical primary
school there are also other types of schools.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.



Αll-day primary schools,
Minority Schools,
Cross-cultural Education Schools,
School Units of Special Education
European School

The all-day primary school was established with
the aim to expand the teaching hours as well as to
cover the needs arising from the contemporary
conditions of the children’s families.

Secondary education(1)




Secondary education is divided into two cycles:
compulsory lower secondary and non-compulsory
upper secondary education. Compulsory lower
secondary education is provided in Gymnasia
while non-compulsory upper secondary education
includes two types of schools: Geniko Lykeio and
Epaggelmatiko Lykeio (Vocational Lykeio).
Compulsory lower secondary lasts for 3 years and
concerns students of 13 to 15 years of age while
non-compulsory concerns students over 15 years
of age.



In secondary education apart from the typical
secondary schools there are also other types of
schools ;
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
7.
8.

Ecclesiastic schools,
Minority Schools,
Cross-cultural Education Schools,
Experimental Schools,
Music Schools,
Art Schools,
Special Education Schools,
Second Chance Schools





In parallel with the mainstream schools of
secondary education operate Esperina Gymnasia
(Evening Gymnasia) and Esperina Genika and
Epaggelmatika Lykeia (Evening Genika Lykeia
and Evening Vocational Lykeia).
There are also Epaggelmatikes Scholes
(Vocational Training Schools) operating during the
day only which together with Vocational Lykeia
make up secondary Vocational Education

Post-Secondary education


Post-secondary non-tertiary education in Greece
is mainly organised around, and implemented
through, the operation of Vocational Training
Institutes (I.E.K.) which are post-secondary
education institutions providing formal initial and
further vocational education and training. IEK
graduates can receive a Certificate or a Diploma
of Vocational Training equivalent to that of the
Vocational Lyceum (EPAL) with professional
rights enabling access to the labour market in both
the public and the private sectors.

Tertiary education




Tertiary Education in Greece is public and funded
primarily by the state. It comprises two parallel
sectors: a) the University sector, which includes
the universities, the technical universities, and the
School of Fine Arts, and b) the Technological
sector, which includes the (Higher) Technological
Education Institutions (TEIs).
Admission of students to the above institutes
depends on their performance at nation-wide
exams. Tertiary education in Greece is provided
free of charge

Administration of Education
The administration of primary and secondary
education is conducted hierarchically by:






Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs;
Regional Directorates of Education;
Prefectural Directorates of Primary and Secondary
Education;
Schools.

Regional Directorates of Education(1)
There are thirteen Regional Education Directorates
under the Minister of Education implementing
educational policy and linking local agents to central
services and organizations.
They are responsible for the administration and
supervision of other decentralized services in their
area, as well as for the coordination of local School
Advisors.

Each Regional Education Directorate consists of the
following:
1.
2.

3.

An Administration Department
A Department of Pedagogical Guidance for Primary
Education
A Department of Pedagogical Guidance for Secondary
Education

The following services come also under the Regional
Directorates :
1.
2.

3.

4.
5.

The Regional Further Education Centres (PEK)
The Centres of Differential Assessment, Diagnosis and
Support of Special Education Needs (KEDDY)
Regional Support and Educational Planning Centres
(PEKESES)
Environmental Education Centres (KPE)
Pre-Primary, Primary, Special and Secondary
Education Advisors

Regional Directorate of Education of South
Aegean Sea
Regional Directorate of Primary and Secondary
Education in the South Aegean Sea is a large public,
non-profit educational organization in Greece which
is responsible for schools, teachers and students in
two Prefectures :
1.
2.

Cyclades islands
Dodecanese islands

Regional Directorate of Education of South
Aegean Sea
It has under its administration in 44 islands of South
Aegean Sea
 596 Schools
 7072 Teachers
Directorate of Secondary Education in Dodecanese
islands:
102 schools
2000 teachers

Greek education system

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Greek education system