Geographical accessibility

Greece has a particular geographical morphology dominated by mountainous regions and many islands, thus rendering accessibility difficult. The Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs policy ensures that state pre-schools (Nipiagogeio) and primary schools exist nationwide, even in the most remote regions, so that all students have access to education. According to joint ministerial decision 50025/19-09-2018, regional authorities are responsible for the free transport of pre-school and primary school education pupils residing at a distance greater than 1.200 meters from the school unit.

Admission requirements and choice of school

Nipiagogeio (pre-school)

To be eligible for enrolment in nipiagogeio (pre-school) children must be at a legally specified age, i.e. on 31st December of the year of enrolment, a child must have reached the minimum age of 4 years. Every public pre-school education (nipiagogeio) belongs to a specific school region and the preschoolers attending, stay within its boundaries.  In municipalities or municipal communities where more than one pre-school operates, the boundaries of the school region are delimited by the competent director of the primary education directorate. Children may be enrolled in a different area, other than the one of their place of residence if:

• They are siblings of students attending the same or a co-located pre-school or a co-located primary school.
• The number of pupils attending the nipiagogeio of the school region exceeds the number the specific nipiagogeio can accommodate.

According to presidential decree 79/2017, as in force, the admission requirements are:

• Proof of permanent address.
• Health booklet of the pupil or any other documentation that proves that the pupil has received the recommended vaccinations.
• Personal health assessment paper.
• Birth Certificate.

Dimotiko scholeio (primary school)

To be eligible for enrolment in the 1st grade of primary school (dimotiko scholeio), pupils must be at a legally specified age, i.e. on 31st December of the year of enrolment a pupil must have reached the age of 6 years. Serious health and/or other reasons certified by KEDASY or state medical-pedagogical centres or state hospitals, may result in a delay in enrolment. Children are not required to sit maturity tests for enrolment in primary education. However, they may repeat the class for one year if they are unable or have difficulty in attending the 1st grade. Admission to a specific primary school is determined by the pupil's permanent place of residence. Each permanent place of residence may be identified with its primary school by reference to its location within a designated district. In exceptional circumstances, pupils who are resident outside the district of a school may receive approval for admission by the competent director of the directorate of primary education. The enrolment of a pupil who resides in a different school district is foreseen in case the primary school of the region exceeds the number of pupils it can accommodate. According to presidential decree 79/2017, as in force, for entry into the 1st grade of primary school, it is required that parents submit the following documentation:

• Confirmation of nipiagogeio (pre-school) attendance.
• Proof of permanent address.
• Pupil medical records or similar documents ensuring pupil’s vaccinations.
• Personal health assessment paper.
• Birth certificate.

Age levels and grouping of pupils

Nipiagogeio (pre-school)

Attendance in nipiagogeio (pre-school) lasts two years. Pre-schools have two groups of children:

1. The first age includes preschoolers; that is, on 31st December of the year of enrolment, they must have reached the age of 5 years (attendance is compulsory).
2. The second age includes children who on 31st December of the year of enrolment, must have reached the age of 4 years (attendance will become gradually compulsory).

According to presidential decree 79/2017, as in force, the school unit must accept all applicants.  If the number of children exceeds 25 per class (article 50, Law 4692/2020), there are two options:

• Additional classes are created, if there is the logistical infrastructure and with the decision of the Primary Education Director(article 50, Law 4692/2020).
• A lottery is conducted between all children, so as to choose 25 students per class.

The rest of the children are distributed, according to a decision by the school teachers’ board.  The latter considers the age, gender and special educational needs of the pupils. The aim is to achieve an equal distribution of pupils in classes. Pupils not being selected are allocated to co-located pre-schools based on their place of residence. Children that are siblings of students attending the same or a co-located pre-school (nipiagogeio) or primary school are excluded from the above procedure. Pre-schools can operate with two, three or more teachers. The permanent position of the teachers of nipiagogeio is determined on the basis of the ratio of children to teachers.

Dimotiko scholeio (primary school)

In primary school, attendance lasts 6 years. It includes the following grades: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.  Each of them represents a certain level of teaching and educational goals/skills defined at central level. The level is common for all schools. It is described in detail in the curricula, which vary by grade and subject. Pupils progress to the next grade after receiving positive assessment results. If unsuccessful, the pupil repeats the grade. Thus, most children typically are taught in mixed-ability classes with children of the same age (only few exceptions apply). Primary schools are characterised as schools that operate with one teacher, two teachers or 3 teachers and up to 12 teachers based on the teacher – pupil ratio. Schools with one, two and 3 teachers, form classes with up to 15 pupils. The limit is 25 pupils per class (the minimum is 12 pupils) for primary schools with 4 teachers and above. In primary education, subjects are taught by one single teacher of higher education (PE 70) or by a specialist teacher, when it concerns a subject of specialisation, according to the curricula. Exceptions are the subjects of Art, Music, Drama and Skill Labs that may be assigned to more than one teacher. More specifically, Skills Labs, which according to the Ministerial decision Φ.31/94185/Δ1/2021 replace the hours of the Flexible Zone, as their purpose is identical with its purpose and subject matter, are organized, coordinated and taught primarily  by  main primary education teachers (PE 70) and then teachers of all subjects taught in the school unit. Art and Physical Education may be taught by primary education teachers, in case the specialist teachers are not able to cover the number of teaching hours in the particular school. Moreover, in primary schools with 4 and 5 teachers, primary education teachers may teach Information and Communication Technology (ICT) under the condition that they hold a B-level certificate of skills in ICT. The school teachers’ board decides on the allocation of grades and classes during the second half of June of each year, on the condition that there are no changes or lack of teaching staff.  In any other case, the allocation may take place during the first half of September.  As regards allocation, the following have to be taken into consideration:

1. Teachers are allowed to teach the same class for two consecutive years
2. It is preferable for teachers to teach different classes/grades each year
3. Teachers may not teach classes which their biological children attend to, if this is possible
4. The school teachers’ board sets the criteria for the allocation of classes, taking into account the special features of the school unit.

Organisation of the school year

The organisation of pre-school and primary education school time is determined at central level (presidential decree 79/2017). It is applied to all pre-schools and primary schools. The school year for both public and private pre-school and primary education schools starts on the 1 September and ends on the 31 August of the following year. The teaching year starts on the 1 September and ends on the 21 June of the following year, while lessons start on the 11 September and end on the 15 June of the following year. In case the 11 September and the 15 June are national holidays, lessons start on the next working day and end on the previous working day, respectively. The school year is divided into three terms:

• 1st term: from the 11 September to the 10 December
• 2nd term: from the 11 December to the 10 March
• 3rd term: from the 11 March to the 15 June.

During the school year, there are short breaks – during Christmas and Easter – of 4 weeks in total.  Pupils’ summer break starts on the 16 June and ends on the 10 September. The teaching days in pre-school and primary education amount to 170 days per year, i.e. a total of 35 weeks per year, 5 days each (Monday to Friday).

Organisation of the school day and week

Nipiagogeio (pre-school)

The single all-day pre-school includes an all-day optional programme, besides the compulsory programme. The following conditions apply:

1. In nipiagogeia with one teacher, the minimum number for the operation of the all-day programme is 5 pupils.
2. In nipiagogeia with two teachers, the minimum number for the operation of the all-day programme is 10 pupils.
3. In nipiagogeia with 3 teachers and above, the minimum number for the operation of the all-day programme is 14 pupils.

State pre-schools (Nipiagogeia) operate from Monday to Friday. Compulsory opening hours for single type of all-day pre-schools (Nipiagogeia) are 8:30 to 13:00 for all classes (25 teaching hours per week).  For non-compulsory all-day programmes, the timetable is extended to 16:00. Parents of pupils that have enrolled in the non-compulsory all-day programme (13:00-16:00) have the option to apply for early arrival classes (07:45 to 8:30). The minimum number of pupils for setting up an early day-care class is 5.  In accordance with relevant provisions, weekly teaching timetables are drawn up in the first 10 days of September by the head of the Nipiagogeio together with the school teachers' board. Below is  the timetable of the morning operation of the single type of all-day pre-schools:

It should be noted that in pre-school, a change in teaching time does not mean a change in activity.  The Kindergarten teacher has the flexibility to adjust the time of organised and free activities according to the specific context of the classroom. 

Dimotiko scholeio (primary school)

Single type of all-day primary schools administer a compulsory programme of subjects for all pupils at all grades as well as an all-day schooling programme (non-compulsory). The minimum number of pupils for the non-compulsory all-day programme is 14 for schools with 6 teachers (and above) and 10 for schools with 4 and 5 teachers. The non-compulsory curriculum is offered as an option to pupils before and after the end of the compulsory timetable.  Priority is given to families which comply with specific social criteria. State primary schools operate from Monday to Friday. Compulsory opening hours for single type of all-day primary schools are 8:15 to 13:15 for all classes. For non-compulsory all-day programmes, the timetable is extended to 16:00. The minimum number for having a morning time zone is 7 pupils (for schools that have up to 8 teachers) and   10 pupils (for schools that have nine or more teachers).  Parents of pupils that have enrolled in the non-compulsory all-day programme (13:15-16:00) have the option to apply for early arrival classes (07:00 to 8:00).

Below is the timetable of the morning operation of the single type of all-day primary school: