The Greek educational system aims to develop students into well-rounded individuals. It is organized into primary, secondary, and higher education levels. Primary school runs from ages 6-12, secondary from 13-15, and high school from 15-18. All levels of public education are free. Primary school runs from September to June, with breaks for Christmas and Easter. Students are evaluated on a scale each term without final exams. Teachers participate in professional development and can advance in their careers. Secondary and high school introduce more specialized teachers and end-of-year exams to determine university entrance. Teacher salaries are graded based on experience but saw cuts during Greece's economic crisis.

1. The Greek Educational System
Primary School of Pastida, Rhodes 2018-19

2. The goal of the Greek Educational System is
“to contribute to the all-round, harmonious
and balanced development of the mental and
psychosomatic skills of the pupils so that,
regardless of gender and background, they
can develop into complete personalities and
live creatively”.

3. ORGANISATION OF THE GREEK SCHOOL
 Primary Education
 Kindergarten (2 years, 4-6 years old)
 Primary School (6 years, 6-12)
 Secondary Education
 Secondary School (3 years, 13-15)
 High School (3 years, 15-18)
 Higher Education (University, Polytechnic School etc)
Kindergarten, Primary School and Secondary School
are obligatory for all Greek citizens. All sections of the
educational system are free for all students.

4. PRIMARY SCHOOL: BASIC CHARACHERISTICS
 The School year begins on 11th of September
and ends on the 15th of June.
 School is closed for two weeks during Christmas
Holidays (23/12 – 7/1) and for two weeks during
Easter Holidays and during National Holidays.
 Lessons start at 8:15 a.m. - finish at 13:15 p.m.
 Students can stay until 16:00 to do homework
and extra activities with the presence and help of
teachers.
 Teachers have to teach 21-24 hours per week
depending on the years they are working.
However, they have to stay in school from 8:00-
14:00.

5. PRIMARY SCHOOL: BASIC CHARACHERISTICS
 One teacher teaches the basic subjects in each
class (Language, Maths, Science, History, Religion,
Environmental Studies etc).
 Specialised teachers teach P.E., English, Music,
Art, Drama, ICT, French and German.
 Pupils have to choose between German and
French as a second foreign language.
 When needed, there are teachers of special
education to support pupils with learning
difficulties.

6. PRIMARY SCHOOL: BASIC CHARACHERISTICS
 There are up to 25 pupils in one class.
 The school year is divided in 3 terms.
 Students are evaluated in all classes at the
end of each term. Pupils from the 1st to the
3rd class are evaluated with a scale of A to
C. Pupils from the 4th to the 6th class are
evaluated with a scale of 1- 10.
 There are no final exams.

7. PRIMARY SCHOOL: BASIC CHARACHERISTICS
 Every year, each class chooses to participate in
various educational programmes
(environmental, healthy diet projects, road/traffic
education etc.)
 There are teacher - councelors who are
responsible for every area of schools and co-
ordinate the successful outcome of these
programmes.
 Additionally, each class can schedule and
organise autonomous educational visits (to
museums, libraries etc).

8. PRIMARY SCHOOL: BASIC CHARACHERISTICS
 On national or religious holidays there are
celebrations taking place in schools which
are open for the parents of the students.
 Each class is responsible for the preparation
and organisation of at least one celebration.

9. PRIMARY SCHOOL: BASIC CHARACHERISTICS
 The school is directed by one Headmaster. Big
schools also have one or two assistant
headmasters depending on the number of the
classes.
 Important decisions are taken by the teacher
association (all the teaching staff of the school).
 In each region there is a supervisor and who is
in charge of all the schools and takes important
decisions together with a council elected by the
teachers association.

10. TEACHERS’ DEVELOPMENT
 Primary school teachers are frequently given
the opportunity to participate in personal and
academic development seminars throughout
their teaching career.
 They can also continue their studies
(postgraduate and PhD) but since 2010 they are
not given a sabbatical as they used to in the
past.
 Depending on their qualifications, teachers are
eligible for the counselor's position,
headmaster’s position or they can even move to
higher education.

11. SECONDARY AND HIGH SCHOOL
In secondary and high school there are some
basic changes.
 Each subject is taught by a specialised
teacher – there no class teacher any more.
 There are two semesters.
 There are end of year exams – Students who
fail can take the exams again in September
before the beginning of the new year.

12. SECONDARY AND HIGH SCHOOL
 In the second and third year of high schools
students are taught some basic subjects and
depending on the scientific field they are
interested in, they choose additional
subjects.
 At the end of the third year of high school,
students take exams in national level. The
results of these exams will determine their
successful entrance to Higher education.

13. TEACHERS’ SALARIES
 After the economic crisis began in Greece in
2010, there have been cuts in teachers’ salaries
up to 30%.
 Depending on the years they are working, and
the MA or PhD studies they have, teachers are
placed in salary grades. Every two years
teachers advance to the next salary grade.
 The following chart shows the salary grades and
the amount of money teachers receive each
year before tax.

14. TEACHER’S SALARIES
years Salary
Grade
Amount of
Salary
Years Salary
Grade
Amoun of
Salary
0-2 1 1092 18-20 10 1623
2-4 2 1151 20-22 11 1682
4-6 3 1210 22-24 12 1741
6-8 4 1269 24-26 13 1800
8-10 5 1328 26-28 14 1859
10-12 6 1387 28-30 15 1918
12-14 7 1446 30-32 16 1977
14-16 8 1505 32-34 17 2036
16-18 9 1564 34-36 18 2095

15. Thank you!