Education in Greece
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The Greek educational system has undergone significant changes and modernisations during the 1990's.
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Primary Education
- Dimotiko: Elementary school.
Secondary Education
- Gymnasio: Junior High School.
- (Eniaio) Lykeio: High School. See Lyceum.
- TEE (Techniko Epaggelmatiko Ekpedeftirio (also called Techniko Lykeio - the TEE acronym and the term Techniko Lykeio are the most commonly used informal terms): Technical/Vocational high school.
After students graduate from Gymnasio [Junior high school], they may choose between TEE or Lykeio to continue their studies or they may stop studying, since Lykeio is not mandatory. Graduating from Lykeio after the final examination is a plus when looking for a job.
Post-Secondary Education
- IEK (Institouto Epagelmatikis Katartisis): Vocational school.
Tertiary Education
- TEI(Technological Education Institute)]: Technical university.
- AEI: Academic university.
- Polytechnio: Polytechnics. Example: NTUA. Also famous because of the students political stand in November 17, 1973 against 1967's junta.
Private Education
- Private dimotika (primary education), gymnasia (middle school; secondary education), lykeia (high school; secondary education). Some of them are for foreigners, usually children of British or American families. For example see American Community Schools.
- Private TEEs and IEKs.
- EES (Laboratories of Liberal Studies, Ergastiria Eleutheron Spoudon): Private universities and colleges, often franchises of foreign universities. For example see the University of Wales, Bangor and Mediterranean College. Also Deree College.
Vocational Education
- TEE and IEK.
- OEEK is the government body which oversees the IEK schools. See http://www.oeek.gr
- Private EES schools often offer seminars and 1-year vocational programmes, usually for Computing or Business studies. It is very common for young Greeks to seek private vocational education for using the computer software products Eurofasma and Kefaleo (Capital).
Obsolete Institutions
Current Issues (2003)
- Anagnorisi (recognition): Private universities are forbidden by the constitution, although lots of them, often franchises of European and American universities, are operating as EES (Laboratories of Liberal Studies, LLS). The 1930's law that forbids private universities is incompatible with the European Union law. Most Greek universities and the Greek government are strongly opposed to the formal anagnorisi (recognition) of EES. Nea Dimokratia (New Democracy), the Greek conservative right political party made the pre-electoral claim that it will change the law so that private universities will be recognized. Without recognition, students who have an EES degree are unable to work in the public sector. PASOK, the political party which is in power from 1981 (as of 2003), has taken some positive actions after EU intervention, such as the creation of a special government agency which certifies the vocational status of certain EES degree holders, but not the academic status. The issue of full recognition is still a debate among Greek politicians.
- Greece does not recognize three-year university degrees. Students who completed a Bachelor degree in UK or another country cannot get employment easily in the public sector, unless they have a Master degree.