Greece has a long history of education, for instance, most of the children in ancient Greece began their studies at the age of seven. Presently, the country has a centralized education system, which is governed by the Ministry of Education, Lifelong Learning, and Religious Affairs. The education system in Greece consists of three sequential levels:
Both primary and secondary education is free in government-funded schools and compulsory for all school-aged children. Children from 0 to 4 years can attend early childhood care followed by Kindergarten or preparatory schools from age 5 until they turn 6 years.
After Kindergarten, students join a primary school (demotiko), from grades 1 to 12, for the next six years from age six to 12 years. Each school year extends from mid-September to mid-June. Once the student completes primary school, they advance to middle school or lower secondary education, also known as Gymnasio school and lasts for three years. At this stage, all schools use the same curriculum. Moreover, students who graduate from this level are awarded a school-leaving certificate (apolyterion) without having to sit for any form of examination. Additionally, upper secondary education lasts for three years and is known as lyceum.
Students who complete the gymnasio can either enroll in a senior high school (lyceums) or vocational institute. Education in the general institute lasts for three years while in technical vocational schools it lasts for two to three years. Moreover, general lyceums are curricula based, while vocational lyceums are more practical based.
Edarabia showcases all private schools in Greece through which parents can filter by tuition fees, curriculum, rankings & ratings. There are many public, private and charter schools near you that cater to both expat and local students.
Depending on the level of education; kindergartens (pre-schools), primary, secondary and high schools will all have varying tuition fees. Most K-12 schools offer different curriculums and extra-curricular activities to support the intellectual and physical wellbeing of students. Admissions for the top international schools in Greece tend to have waiting lists so it is recommended that parents apply well in advance to secure a spot for their children. Additionally, each school has ratings based on parent reviews and are ranked below accordingly.
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