Education in Greece (original) (raw)

The Greek educational system has undergone significant changes and modernisations during the 1990's.

Primary Education

Gymnasio: Middle school.
Lykeio: High school. See Lyceum.
TEE (Texniko Epagelmatiko Ekpedeutirio): Technical-vocational school. Alternative to Lykeio.

TEI: Technical university.
AEI: Academic university.
Polytechnio: Polytechnics. Example: NTUA. Also famous because of the political revolution in November 17, 1974 which overthrew the 1967's junta.

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 University of Wales at Bangor and Mediterranean College. Also Deree College.

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).

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 Democrary), 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.