1. Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the E.U. Προεδρία της Ελλάδας στο Συμβούλιο της Ε.Ε. 1 January - 30 June 2014 HELLENIC REPUBLIC Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs

3.  The responsibility for education lies with the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs  Pre-primary education starts at the age of 4 (compulsory attendance for all 5-year-olds)  A 6-year compulsory Primary education  A 3-year compulsory Lower secondary education: a prerequisite for upper secondary schools  A 3-year optional Upper secondary education, either general or vocational  Between Secondary and Higher education, Vocational Training Institutes (IEK) constitute Post- secondary non-tertiary education  Higher education is the last level and comprises the University sector and the Technological sector  In Greece there is an innate inclination for language learning, with at least 4 languages taught in the primary and secondary education (English, French, Italian, Spanish) and a fifth in certain regions.

4. The Hellenic Presidency Priorities on Education and Training Improve quality and efficiency Quality assurance at all levels of education Benchmark on language (poss.) Teacher’s education Attractiveness of VET Efficient, innovative Education and Training to invest in young people and in entrepreneurship Work based learning

5. The Hellenic Presidency Priorities on Education and Training Equity and social cohesion Pre-school education and Early school leaving Higher Education Merging HEIs U-Multiranking system

6. Council Conclusions Quality Assurance at all levels of Education Teacher’s Education

7. Meeting of Directors General for VET 27-28 March 2013  The following issues are going to be discussed:  Alliances for apprenticeships  Work based learning  Interim analysis of Bruges Review  Quality Assurance  PIAAC (Adult learning, continuous VET)  Country Specific Recommendations  Key issue: Interaction with enterprises (possibility of presenting the MoU with Germany, inviting Swiss external experts to present their model of dual system

8. We really hope to see you in Greece