THE STRUCTURE OF THE GREEK EDUCATION SYSTEM

Education in Greece is compulsory for all children 6-15 years old; namely, it includes Primary (Dimotiko) and Lower Secondary (Gymnasio) Education. The school life of the students, however, can start from the age of 2.5 years (pre-school education) in institutions (private and public) called "Vrefonipiakoi Paidikoi Stathmi" (creches). In some Vrefonipiakoi Stathmoi there are also Nipiaka Tmimata (nursery classes) which operate along with the Nipiagogeia (kindergartens).
Attendance at Primary Education (Dimotiko) lasts for six years, and children are admitted at the age of 6. Along with the regular kindergartens (Nipiagogeia) and the Dimotika, All-day primary schools are in operation, with an extended timetable and an enriched Curriculum.
Post-compulsory Secondary Education, according to the reform of 1997, consists of two school types: Eniaia Lykeia (Unified Upper Secondary Schools) and the Technical Vocational Educational Schools (TEE). The duration of studies in Eniaia Lykeia (EL) is three years and two years (a' level) or three years (b' level) in the Technical Vocational Educational Schools (TEE). Mutual student transfer from one type of school to the other is possible.
Along with the mainstream schools of Primary and Secondary Education, Special Nipagogeia (kindergartens), 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 also in operation.
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 (lower secondary school) and Lykeio (upper secondary school) graduates according to the relevant specializations they provide.
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.
The following graph presents concisely the structure of the Greek education system, as it consists of institutions of the formal, classified or unclassified education. More...

FOREIGN SCHOOLS IN GREECE

Registration at a Greek Foreign School
A Greek child can only be registered at a Foreign Private Primary or Secondary School with a foreign curriculum if: 1. The child has foreign or dual nationality, or his/her mother/father is a foreign national.
2. The student has other relative (second grade) who attends at the same school.
3. The student has other relative (first grade) who teaches in same school.
4.One of the child's parents is employed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a member of the diplomatic or administrative staff.
5. The child has already studied one of the last 6 years in foreign schools in Greece or abroad.
6. It’s Proven that the student will be moved abroad in the next 3 years and will be forced to study in a foreign school abroad.
7. In any other case that is determined by the Greek Ministry of Education.

Documentation required to register a Greek Child
The documentation required to register a Greek child in a private foreign Primary or Junior High School with a foreign curriculum are:
1. An application from the child's parent or guardian.
2. Confirmation from the school that they are willing to accept the child.
3. A certificate or letter of confirmation from the embassy or a countersigned photocopy of a relevant passport demonstrating that the child or the child's mother is a foreign national.
4. Should the child be seeking entry into the First Year of Primary School, their birth certificate or a Registry Office certificate will also be required.
5. The student's academic record.
6. The student can register in any class of Greek Primary School, proof must be provided that the child has attended all the previous school years in a Foreign School either abroad or in Greece.
The interested parent or guardian should submit the required documentation to the school, which will then forward it the Foreign and Minority Schools Department at the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs via the relevant Primary or Secondary Education Office or the competent Regional Education Office.
Any academic records submitted must be translated into Greek and stamped by an official translator.