EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE IN GREECE ATTRACTIVE VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE FOR PUPILS Second Trasnational Meeting in Istanbul, Turkey 05-07/03/2009

Education in Greece is compulsory for all children 6-15 years old: Primary Schools ( Dimotiko ) lasts for six years, and children are admitted at the age of 6. Lower Secondary Schools ( Gymnasio ) lasts for three years, and children are admitted when they finish Dimotiko. Nursery Schools: The school life of the students, however, can start from the age of 2.5 years (pre-school education) in private and public institutions called nursery classes (Paidikoi Stathmi) which operate along with the kindergartens (Nipiagogeia). Along with the regular kindergartens and Dimotiko, All-day primary schools are in operation, with an extended timetable and an enriched Curriculum COMPULSORY EDUCATION

Post-compulsory Education, according to the reform of 1997, consists of two school types: Unified Upper Secondary Schools (Eniaia Lykeia) Duration of studies: 3 years Technical Vocational Educational Schools ( TEE ) Duration of studies: 2 years (a’ level) or 3 years (b’ level) Special schools: Along with the mainstream schools of Primary and Secondary Education, Special Nipagogeia, Dimotika, Gymnasia, Lykeia and upper secondary classes are in operation, which admit students with special educational needs. Musical, Ecclesiastical and Physical Education Gymnasia and Lykeia are operating as well. POST-COMPULSORY EDUCATION

Technical Vocational Schools (TEE)  Provide vocational training and education in 14 fields for 42 different areas of specialisation.  The Ministry of Education has overall responsibility for course development and approval, and also supervises most of these schools (448 TEE).  Certain TEE are supervised by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (49), the Ministry of Agriculture (12) and the Ministry of Development (8). These TEE provide vocational training and education in specialisations corresponding to the relative ministries.  There are also 85 private TEE. POST-COMPULSORY EDUCATION

Vocational Training Institutes Post-compulsory Secondary Education also includes the Vocational Training Institutes (IEK), which provide formal but unclassified level of education. These Institutes are not classified as an educational level, because they accept both Gymnasio and Lykeio graduates according to the relevant specialization they provide. Higher Education Public higher education is divided into Universities and Technological Education Institutes (TEI). Students are admitted to these Institutes according to their performance at national level examinations, taking place at the second and third grade of Lykeio. Additionally, students are admitted to the Hellenic Open University upon the completion of the 22 year of age by drawing lots. POST-COMPULSORY EDUCATION

Vocational Training Institutes ( IEK ) Post-secondary education is provided by Vocational Training Institutes (IEK) which offer formal vocational training and education of unclassified level (neither higher nor university level) in 110 different specialisations in 14 basic occupational sectors. Vocational training combined with employment  Is provided by 52 Apprenticeship.  Technical Vocational Schools run by the Labour Force Employment Organisation (OAED -Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs) for working pupils. POST-COMPULSORY EDUCATION

EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM Source: Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs

Career & Counselling Centres (KE.SY.P): The Career & Counselling Centres were established by force of Law 2525/97 and organized by the Ministry of Education in cooperation with the department of (School) Vocational & Career Guidance (SEP) of the Pedagogical Institute Currently the operation of two KE.SY.P Centres is of particular orientation:Ministry of Education Pedagogical Institute  the KE.SY.P of the Ministry of Education was established to provide coordination and administrative support to the network of KE.SY.P Centres and SEP Offices around the country  the KE.SY.P of the Pedagogical Institute (P.I.) was established to provide expert support to the network of KE.SY.P and SEP Offices in Greece VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE

Career & Counselling Centres ( KE.SY.P ): KE.SY.P Centres operate at the seats of all prefectures of the country. In total, there are 68 KE.SY.P Centres in Greece. Their task is to provide education and vocational guidance services and information to young people up to 25 years of age and to their parents. In addition, these Centres also support School Career Counsellors who implement the relevant institution of Counselling either on an individual or group basis. These Centres are staffed by one or more experts responsible for Vocational Guidance and one expert in Information and Documentation. The Centres feature libraries with information material pertinent to Vocational Guidance. VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE

School Career Counselling Offices ( GRA.SE.P ): These Offices were established by the Ministry of Education and housed in 200 major or jointly-housed schools.Ministry of Education Their task is to support the implementation of Vocational Guidance in schools, as well as provide counselling and information to students and their parents. The staff of the School Career Counselling Offices comprises trained Guidance practitioners. In addition, these Offices are furnished with library materials on the field of their competence. VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE

Implementation of the Vocational Guidance Institution in the Classroom: The institution of Vocational Guidance has been incorporated to national education in the sense that is an additional item in the curriculum involving specific activities for which the students are not marked.national education Specifically, Vocational Guidance is “taught” at: High-school level (Grade C’: 1 hour per week) and Unified Lyceum (Grade A’: 1 hour per week, 2nd semester). Again, the supervising entities are the Ministry of Education and the Pedagogical Institute.Ministry of Education Pedagogical Institute VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE

Implementation of the Vocational Guidance Institution in the Classroom: The textbooks and teachers’ books for students and instructors respectively are the following: 1. “Preparing for life”, student’s textbook for Grade C’, High-school 2. “Preparing for life”, teacher’s book for Grade C’, High-school 3. “Planning my future”, student’s textbook for Grade A’, Unified Lyceum 4. “Planning my future”, teacher’s book for Grade A’, Unified Lyceum 5. “Education after High-school”, student’s School Guide, Grade C’ High-school 6. “Education after Lyceum”, School Guide for student in Unified Lyceum and TEE 7. “Education & Employment”, a book analyzing the prospects for numerous vocations / professions. VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE

Implementation of the Vocational Guidance Institution in the Classroom: In the context of Vocational Guidance, teachers ran numerous Career Education programmes at the secondary level of education during the academic period During the same period, Career Day events were adopted to enhance Career Guidance at schools. Career Education This is to support the institution of Vocational Guidance in education by expanding its application at a local, regional and national level. The thematic content of Career Education programmes includes issues relating to the work environment, local economic activity, labour relations and occupational sectors, the European dimension of education-employment and the development of skills.Career Education VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE

Office of the Pedagogical Institute for People with Special Needs: In 1998 the Pedagogical Institute set up a SEP Office with the aim to provide Counselling and Vocational Guidance services to people with special needs and others threatened by social exclusion.SEP Office This Office provides information about vocational training and rehabilitation for the targeted individuals. Additional aims include support to School Career Counsellors, cooperation with agencies / organizations operating in Greece and abroad for the benefit of such vulnerable groups, as well as with representatives from the sector of production and with prospective employers. VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE

Career Services Offices for Universities & Technological Educational Institutes : These Offices provide pivotal Counselling & Vocational Guidance services to graduates of Universities and Technological Educational Institutes (TEI). Their support consists of actions aiming to facilitate the smooth entry of graduates into the labour market. At the same time they provide Vocational Guidance services, career counselling and information about postgraduate studies, training courses, scholarships and knowledge about employee / professional rights. In addition, the Career Services Offices mediate the students’ placement (practical training) where warranted and organize Career Day events. VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE

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