Education in Greece

[1][2][3] The Ministry exercises control over public schools, formulates and implements legislation, administers the budget, coordinates national level university entrance examinations, sets up the national curriculum, appoints public school teaching staff, and coordinates other services.

Taking or making phone calls, texting, or the use of other camera, video or other recording devices or medium that have image and audio processing ability like smartwatches is forbidden.

Students are awarded an "Απολυτήριο Δημοτικού" (Apolytirio Dimotikou, primary school leaving certificate) which gives automatic admission to the lower secondary education (gymnasium).

[39][40] Students wishing to access study programmes in Higher Education must be both secondary education school graduates (lyceum or its equivalent) holding Apolytirio Lykeiou (lyceum certificate or its equivalent) and must take nationally set examinations officially entitled "Πανελλαδικές Εξετάσεις" (Pan-Hellenic Examinations, Panelladikes Eksetaseis) which is an externally assessed national standardized test (university matriculation examinations) given one time in any given school year, which also accept all adult ages for candidates.

Apolytirio certificate grants the right to pursue entry to higher education at a later date by participating at the Pan-Hellenic Examinations.

As there are usually more applicants than places available in certain fields of study, students with the highest average exam results are selected, e) For admission to programmes requiring specialized knowledge or skills, special admission examinations are require in one or more certain subjects (such as fine arts, architecture, music studies, foreign languages, and others) or compulsory preparatory tests (such as medical assessment, fitness, sports, psychometric).

"Βεβαίωση Πρόσβασης" (Vevaiosi Prosvasis, Access to Higher Education Certificate) is a document given to students soon after Pan-Hellenic Examinations results are released.

With the Law 2725/15-6-1999, article 34, paragraph 10, Government Gazette 121/A/17-6-1999,[41][42] high school graduate athletes from 17 to 30-year-old who have specific sport achievements they are admitted without Panhellenic Examinations entrance to anyone of their choice undergraduate department of the public Higher Education Institutions of Greece.

Ages are typical and can vary with the most common being are between: In high school English is also required all three years as part of general education courses, whereas secondary foreign languages like French or German are optional.

If they wish, graduating students are eligible to exam in Pan-Hellenic Examinations on the three subjects of their chosen third-grade Orientation Group and Modern Greek Language and Literature.

[48][44][43][49][50][35][51][52][53][26] EPAL programme of study is designed in relation to the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) and International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO).

[54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64] The EPAL has dual-diploma (also known as double-diploma)[46][65][66] studies comprises two separate programmes taken in parallel earning, both, two separate qualifications in their own right, a "Απολυτήριο Επαγγελματικού Λυκείου" (Apolytirio Epagelmatikou Lykeiou; Vocational High School Apolytirio; Vocational High School Diploma; i.e. High School Diploma; Upper Secondary Leaving Certificate) and a "Πτυχίο Επαγγελματικής Εκπαίδευσης και Κατάρτισης, Επιπέδου 4" (Ptychio of Vocational Education and Training at HQF (NQF) level 4; i.e.

[39] Students normally select their chosen Specialty in fields relevant to intended study at the higher education, and in Pan-Hellenic Examinations, if they wish, exam in 4 advanced level subjects of the Grade 3.

It must not confuse with its usage in the English language, whereby the word Degree refers to Higher Education qualification title only.

Since 2021, EPAS Apprenticeship is a lower secondary two-track education system, Dual VET (δυικό σύστημα επαγγελματικής εκπαίδευσης και κατάρτισης), having alternating periods in a school with theory classroom and at the workplace with work-(traineeship) practice experience (πρόγραμμα μάθησης σε εργασιακό χώρο), with terms are contractually regulated by law and labour agreement.

Apprenticeship (Μαθητεία) is based on the German dual learning system which combines classroom education with paid practical work in a business.

The EPAS Apprenticeship awarded "Πτυχίο Επαγγελματικής Εκπαιδευσης και Κατάρτισης, Επιπέδου 3" (Ptychio of Vocational Education and Training, Level 3; i.e.

; 2021–Present),[92][93][94][95][96][97][98] is also known as Experimental Vocational Apprenticeship School, founded in 2021 by Public Employment Service (DYPA) in collaboration with German-Hellenic Chamber of Industry and Commerce and Institute of the Greek Tourism Confederation (INSETE).

Post-lyceum Year Apprenticeship Class (Μεταλυκειακό Έτος Τάξη Μαθητείας; 2016–Present) is provided by Vocational Lyceum (ΕPΑL).

It includes 1 year post-secondary apprenticeship dual programme (non-tertiary; Dual VET two-track education system) having alternating periods in an EPAL school unit with classroom instruction (theory 1 day/week, 7 hrs per day) and at the workplace with work practice training (4 days/week, 7 hrs per day).

All apprenticeships schemes should include a contract (i.e. Σύμβαση Μαθητείας), wage and social security rights/benefits to student which is a trainee referred to simply as "apprentice".

[106][107][108][72] Once, they have been passed all examinations then are awarded "Πτυχίο Επαγγελματικής Ειδικότητας, Εκπαίδευσης και Κατάρτισης, Επιπέδου 5" (Ptychio of Vocational Education and Training, Level 5; i.e.

With the law 4763/2020[104] the Post-High School Year Apprenticeship Class graduates having Diploma of Vocational Education and Training at Level 5, after successful specific entrance examinations (κατατακτήριες εξετάσεις),[74] allows to them admission into the Higher Education (level 6) to an undergraduate programme relevant to their Post-High School Year Apprenticeship Class specialty.

; 2006–Present) The Model Vocational Lyceum (PEPAL) of TSAKOS Enhanced Education Nautical School (TEENS) (Πρότυπο Επαγγελματικό Λύκειο Τσάκος Ελληνικά Εκπαιδευτήρια Ναυτικών Σπουδών; Π.ΕΠΑ.Λ.

ΤΕΕΝΣ; PEPAL TEENS; 2023–Present)[112][113] is the first in Greece non-profit, free of charge (without tuition), private Model Vocational Lyceum (PEPAL) located in the island of Chios with specialties of Maritime Professionals, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Automation, owned and operated by company Tsakos Group of Companies[114] founded by shipowner Nikolas Tsakos.

The SAEKs comprise the specialties of: Culinary Art (cookery); Bakery and Pastry (baker and pâtissier); Tourism Units and Hospitality Businesses (front office / reception, floor service / housekeeping, commodity education); Specialist of Business Administration and Economics in the Tourism Field.

It awarded "Πτυχίο Επαγγελματικής Εκπαιδευσης και Κατάρτισης, Επιπέδου 3" (Ptychio of Vocational Education and Training, Level 3; i.e.

Awarded "Πτυχίο Επαγγελματικής Ειδικότητας και Κατάρτισης, Επιπέδου 3" (Ptychio of Vocational Education and Training, Level 3; i.e.

); Ινστιτούτο Επαγγελματικής Κατάρτισης; 1992–2024),[119][120][121][122] is 2 years adult post-secondary vocational education and training and 960 hours at a work placement (experiential learning, practicum).

The public HEIs[133] can be attended without charge of a tuition fee, textbooks, and for the majority of students meals are also provided for free.