Key features of the education system

The provision of free education to all citizens and at all levels of the state education system is a constitutional principle of the Greek State.

The Greek educational system is centralised.  National laws, presidential decrees and ministerial acts are prevalent within it.

Central level

The central administrative body for the education system across all fields, agencies and levels is the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs.

It takes the key decisions related to long-term objectives.  It also regulates various issues, such as curricula content, staff recruitment and funding.

Regional and local levels

At regional level, the regional education directorates oversee the implementation of the national educational policy.

At local level, the directorates of primary and secondary education supervise all schools in their area.  In their turn, school units make sure they run smoothly.

Teachers

Educational officials of the country are higher education graduates.

The main route into teaching in primary schools is to take a 4-year degree in a pedagogical department.

In secondary schools, most teachers follow a 4 or 5-year subject-based degree at a teacher education faculty.

Stages of the education system

Compulsory education lasts 11 years and extends from the ages of 4 to 15.  The stages of the Greek education are mainly 3:

1) Primary education

Primary education includes pre-primary and primary schools.

Nipiagogeio

Nipiagogeio (pre-primary school) in Greece has become compulsory for all 4-year-old children, since school year 2018/19.  School year 2020/21 foresees the integration of the two-year compulsory pre-primary school in the few remaining municipalities.

Infant centres (vrefikoi stathmoi), infant/child centres (vrefonipiakoi stathmoi) and child centres (paidikoi stathmoi) represent early childhood care.  They are run under the remit of the municipal authorities.  They cater for children between the ages of 2 months and up to the age of the beginning of compulsory education.

Dimotiko scholeio

Primary education is the next stage.  Dimotiko scholeio (primary school) spans 6 years.  It concerns children in the age range of 6-12 years.

Since school year 2016/17, there is a single type of school with a new revised daily timetable.  Within this framework, all pre-primary and primary schools provide an optional all-day programme.

2) Secondary education

Secondary education includes two cycles of study:

Gymnasio

The first one is compulsory and corresponds to gymnasio (lower secondary school).

• It lasts 3 years
• It provides general education
• It covers ages 12-15
• It is a prerequisite for enrolling at general or vocational upper secondary schools
• Parallel to imerisio (day) gymnasio, esperino (evening) gymnasio operates.  Attendance starts at the age of 14.

Lykeio

The second one is the optional geniko or epangelmatiko lykeio (general or vocational upper secondary school).

• It lasts 3 years 
• Pupils enrol at the age of 15
• There are two different types:

1. Geniko (general)lykeio.  It lasts 3 years and includes both common core subjects and optional subjects of specialisation
2. Epangelmatiko (vocational) lykeio.  It offers two cycles of studies:

1. The secondary cycle
2. The optional post-secondary cycle, the so-called “apprenticeship class”.

• Parallel to day lykeia, there are also:

1. Esperina genika (evening general) lykeia
2. Esperina epangelmatika (evening vocational) lykeia.

3) Tertiary education

Higher education is the last level of the formal education system.  Most undergraduate degree programmes take 4 academic years of full-time study.

Postgraduate courses last from one to two years, while doctorates at least 3 years.

HE comprises:

The university sector (panepistimio):

• Universities
• Polytechnics
• The School of Fine Arts.

The technological sector:

• Technologika ekpaideftika idrymata (technological education institutions)
• The School of Pedagogical and Technological Education (ASPETE).

It is noted that technological education institutions (TEI) have merged with higher education institutes (AEI).

Lifelong learning

Lifelong learning policy in Greece is part of a wider development plan. Law 4763/2020 aims at further reforming LLL structures and facilitating the implementation of LLL policy. The General Secretariat for Vocational Education, Training and Lifelong Learning and Youth plans the public policy of LLL and youth. Non-formal education can lead to certifications recognised at national level.  Lifelong learning is provided at:

1. Scholeia defteris efkairias (second chance schools - SDE)
2. Institouta epangelmatikis katartisis (vocational training institutes - IEK)
3. Epangelmatikes Scoles Katartisis and Epangelmatikes scholes Mathitias OAED (vocational training schools, ESK and vocational training apprentiship schools, EPAS of OAED )
4. Kentra dia viou mathisis (lifelong learning centres, KDVM)
5. Kollegia (colleges).

With law 4763/2020 introduces a National System for Education and Training which develops along the lines of levels 3, 4 and 5 of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). LLL structures included in the formal education system are Second Chance Schools (SDE) and Institutes of Vocational Training (IEK). The reform provides for the creation of post-secondary non-compulsory schools for ages between 16 to 23 (ESK and EPAS) which will be included in the formal education system. Lifelong learning Centres (KDVM) and colleges are part of the non-formal education system.

Useful links

The Eurydice Description of National Education Systems provides comprehensive and comparable information.  The following websites may also be of assistance:

• Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs
• Institute of Educational Policy
• Hellenic Statistical Authority under the section “Population and Social Conditions”
• OECD’s Educational Policy Outlook Profile for Greece

For a brief description of the education system, please consult the following schematic diagram:

Structure of the national education system

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Source: Eurydice 2021/22

Common european reference tools provided by the Eurydice network

• National Student Fee and Support Systems
• The Organisation of the Academic Year in Higher Education
• The Organisation of School Time in Europe (primary and general secondary education)   
• Recommended Annual Instruction Time in Full-Time Compulsory Education in Europe (presented by grades/stages for full time compulsory education as well as by subject and country)
• Teachers and School Heads Salaries and Allowances in Europe (salaries and allowances of teachers and school heads at pre-primary, primary, lower secondary and upper secondary education levels).