Organisation of the E ducation S ystem in Greece

1. Organisation ofthe Education System in Greece Torino, Nov. 2009

2. Phases of education • Pre- primary education • Compulsory education • Post-compulsory education (upper- and post-secondary level) • Higher education

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

4. 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 • Attendance is optional for this age group

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

6. 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

7. vocational education training schools, (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.

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

9. Organizational Variations and Alternative Structures/Types of schools • Cross-cultural Education Sch. • Minority Sch. • Ecclesiastical Sch. • Music Sch. • Artistic Sch. • Physical Education Sch. • Experimental Sch. • Special Education Sch. • Second Chance Sch.

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

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

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

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

14. 5. Artistic Schools aim: to encourage and supportthe 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

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

16. 8. Special Education Education for students with disabilities andspecial 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

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

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

19. 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

20. Innovative Educational Acts current policies and goals rest on5 pillars: • Human-centered education • Environmental education • Digital convergence • Multilingualism- promotion of the Greek language abroad • Arts & Cultural education

21. Cross Thematic Curriculum Framework of Educational Programmess • 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

22. 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

23. Access to Higher Education 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!

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

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

26. 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

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

28. 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

29. 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.

30. Thank you for your attention! Alkistis Zervopoulou Logothetidi

31. References • Eurydice-Network on Education system and policies in Europe-EACEA, [online], available at: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice/index_en.php • Ministry of Education, Life long Learning and Religious Affairs [online],available at: www.ypepth.gr