1. BRIEF PRESENTATION

2. PRIMARY EDUCATION Infant school – 2 years (1 year compulsory to attend) Primary School – 6 years (from 6 to 12 years old)

3. SECONDARY EDUCATION LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOL called “GYMNASIO” (as our school)  for 3 years (from 13 to 15 years old) Then, for the 3 next years, they choose either: HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL, called “GE.L.” : Geniko Lykeio (means General Lyceum) After the 1 st year, students choose either theoretical, positive, or technological direction with different curriculum or TECHNICAL LYCEUM, called EPA.L (means Vocational Lyceum)

4. UNIVERSITIES ENTERING SYSTEM You mast first complete either a General Lyceum or a Technical Lyceum and then, at the end of the 3 rd year, you have to give general national exams in order to enter public universities of public technical colleges, according to the results. Generally speaking, it is very difficult for a student to enter certain popular faculties as Medical Faculty, Faculty of Low, Polytecknical Faculty, etc, but it’s easier to enter Technical colleges. During the very last days there were announcements by the ministry of education about certain changes regarding the number of lessons to be examined during national exams, certain limitation of choices, grouping of universities etc.

5. UNIVERSITIES & TECKNICAL COLLEGES Most of the faculties need 4 years of studies Polytecknical faculty and some other faculties: need 5 years of studies. Medical faculty need 6 years of studies. Tecknical colleges need 3 years of studies

6. INFANT SCHOOLS From 8.00 am till 12.30 or 8.00 till 16.00 if the school is a big one and hosts “all day classes” apart from the ordinary classes. No more than 25 pupils per classroom

7. Primary schools From 8.00 till 14.00 (at least, for big schools, like Ormylia Primary School which has around 250 pupils) In big primary schools, there is also an opportunity to join the so called “all day classes” whish means that pupils can remain at school until 16.00, for extra curriculum activities or for homework preparation - in case their parents are working and prefer to keep children at school for 2 extra hours.

8. Secondary education Students per classroom: 27 maximum - 15 minimum (usually 20-25) From 8.00 till 14.00 (7 teaching hours) Duration of each lesson: 45 min. / breaks: 5-10 min.

9. Subjects/Specializations Specialization philologist: Greek Language Modern Literature Ancient Greek Language Ancient Greek literature History Specialization mathematician: Geometry Algebra Specialization natural sciences: Physics Chemistry Biology Geography

10. Subjects/Specializations Specialization theologist: Religion Specialization: ICT Specialization: English language Specialization: German language Specialization: French language Specialization: Art Specialization: Music Specialization: Technology - craft Specialization: Physical Education

11. Teachers working in our school: 4 Philologists 2 Mathematicians 2 Teachers of Natural Sciences 1 Theologist 1 Technology teacher 1 Teacher for English language 1 Teacher for German language 1 Fine Arts Teacher 1 Music Teacher 1 P.E. Teacher 1 ICT Teacher Unfortunately we don’t have any kind of assistant staff. No secretary, no guard, no building-keepers, no psychologists… We have to do all those works by own means…

12. Teachers’ working status in Greek secondary schools: Every teacher must stay at school for 30 hours per week Every teacher must teach 18 hours minimum - 23 hours maximum (per week) 23 hours for the beginners, 18 for those who are close to retirement, most of the rest, teach 20-21 hours per week If there aren’t enough teaching hours available for a teacher and he can’t complete this number of teaching hours at one school, than he might teach in 2 or even 3 different schools.

13. Our school building host 2 schools This building hosts 2 different schools. One Gymnasium with 145 students and one General Lyceum with 85 students So, there are two different principals and two different teaching councils. But some of the teachers work in both schools. We have perfect relations and collaboration. We share the same yard, the same labs, the same courts. Most of our students in Gymnasium, after finishing Gymnasium, they continue at General Lyceum

14. Our school has totally 145 students and 18 teachers Year 1 is divided in two classrooms Year 2 is divided in three classrooms Year 3 is divided in three classrooms So there are totally 7 classrooms

15. School labs 2 ITC labs (one for the Gymnasium, one for the Lyceum) Natural sciences lab Separate classroom for arts Separate classroom for music Separate classroom for crafts

16. Extra curriculum activities Every teacher could voluntarily uphold certain extra- curriculum activities (projects) in the fields of: environmental education, health education, cultural education, European program (eTwinning, Comenius), etc. Our school also organizes every year many educational trips and visits at places of natural or historical interest, museums, centers of environmental education (like the one we will visit tomorrow) etc.