The Educational System of Greece.

Overview & Synopsis

Education in Greece is examined in this document. The first section describes the basic system. Reform legislation of 1976 and 1977 modernized Greek education. The new laws required that school instruction at all levels be given in demotic or spoken Greek rather than formal or purist Greek; that compulsory school attendance be extended from six to nine years; and that vocational and technical education be reorganized as major components of secondary and higher education. The present structure of the educational system is comprised of four levels: primary (6 years of instruction), lower secondary (gymnasium, three years), upper secondary (lyceum, three years), and higher or postsecondary education. Some vocational/technical schools at the lower secondary level still remain but are to be incorporated into the gymnasium by 1983. The Greek educational system is highly centralized and is headed by the Minister of National Education and Religion. Education at all public institutions (including universities) is free of tuition. Private education is available. The remaining sections of the document examine the following parts of the system in detail: elementary education, secondary education, vocational and technical education, higher education, teacher education, musical education, and adult education. Numerous tables are provided. (Author/RM)