,
Ioannina , built in 1915.
Lower Secondary Education Gymnasium (,
Gymnasio, Lower Secondary Education School, middle school) is compulsory until the age of 15. Article 16, Paragraph 3 of the Constitution of 1975 mandates that compulsory education must be at least nine years in length. This constitutional provision, which applies to all Greek children, was established in Law 309/1976, which also replaced classical Greek (
katharevousa) with modern Greek (
dimotiki) as the official language for teaching at all levels of education, and ceased to be a one-tier non-compulsory six years lower and upper secondary school, middle schools (pupils aged 12–18), and was converted to compulsory three-year lower secondary school for students aged 12–15 (middle school) and three-year non-compulsory upper secondary schools for students aged 15–18 (high school). Admitted students can be up to 16-years-old, and they must have Primary Education School Certificate or its international equivalent. No entry exams are required. Schooling starts on September 11 and ends on early June before the first day of the Pan-Hellenic Examinations. The lessons end on May 31 so that the students will be able to study for their examinations in early June. The gymnasium school-awarded qualification "" (
Apolytirio Gymnasium, gymnasium school leaving certificate, referred to simply as gymnasium certificate) at HQF (
NQF) level 3, gives admission to the upper secondary education (lyceum). Gymnasium has three academic years of schooling known as "" (grade), numbered 1 through to 3. Ages are typical and can vary with the most common being between: In middle school English is mandatory all three years, while students can choose between French or German as the second foreign language that's required.
Second Chance Adult School Second Chance Adult School (SDE; ) is a
Gymnasium level equivalent evening school administered by the Ministry of Education, for adults who did not complete their lower secondary education (gymnasium) lasts two years with 25 hours per week.
Upper Secondary Education Upper secondary school (,
Lykeio, Upper Secondary Education School, Lyceum, High School: the US term for upper secondary school) is non-compulsory education lasting 3 years. High schools starts on September 11 and ends on June 15. Lessons end in late May so that the students will be able to study for their examinations in June. Admitted students can be up to 20-year-old, while they must have Gymnasium Certificate or Lower Secondary Education School Certificate or its international equivalent. The Evening Lyceum ('''') is for both adult students and underage working students lasts 3 years. high school graduate athletes from 17 to 30-year-old who have specific sport achievements they are admitted without Panhellenic Examinations entrance to anyone of their choice undergraduate department of the public Higher Education Institutions of Greece. High schools in Greece designate school class levels based on the years of schooling of the student cohort, using 3 academic year levels, known as "" (grade), numbered 1 through to 3. Ages are typical and can vary with the most common being are between: • 1st Year / First grade (''''), age 15 to 16-year-olds • 2nd Year / Second grade (''''), age 16 to 17 • 3rd Year / Third grade (''''), age 17 to 18 In high school English is also required all three years as part of general education courses, whereas secondary foreign languages like French or German are optional. • i.e. comprehensive lyceum type;
Diapolitismiko Lykeio; General Lyceum of Cross-Cultural Education; 2018–Present) •
Epagelmatiko Lykeio; Vocational Lyceum; EPAL; 2006–Present) • (
Esperino Epagelmatiko Lykeio; Evening Vocational Lyceum) • (
Esperino Geniko Lykeio; Evening General Lyceum; 1976–Present) •
Ekklisiastiko Lykeio; Ecclesiastical General Lyceum; 2006–Present) • Integrated
Special Vocational Gymnasium-Lyceum; 4 years for the lyceum)
General High Schools General High Schools (
Geniko Lykeio). General High Schools Award the "" (
Apolytirio Genikou Lykeiou, General High School Apolytirio, General High School Certificate, Upper Secondary Leaving Certificate, General High School Diploma). It can be awarded in Orientation Groups requiring three different subjects. The second-grade students must choose one out of the two
academic tracks named "" (Orientation Groups), and the third-grade students one out of the three Orientation Groups. An Orientation Group is also known as a "Stream". Once a student has selected a Stream, they need to follow a sequence of subjects to complete their studies at the High School. If they wish, graduating students are eligible to exam in Pan-Hellenic Examinations on the three subjects of their chosen third-grade Orientation Group and Modern Greek Language and Literature.
Public Onassis Schools Public Onassis Schools (junior and senior high schools) locate in areas facing social and economic challenges operate under the supervision and overseen of the Ministry of Education, in close collaboration with the
Alexander S. Onassis Foundation through its donation starting totaling 160 million euros. The curriculum resembles that of Model Schools, emphasizing Humanities, STEM, and Social Sciences, Fine Arts, Digital Literacy, and Emotional and Social Intelligence. Attendance is entirely free of charge. Students entering the first year of junior or senior high school will take written admission exams (tests) of knowledge and skills, similar to the process for Model Schools. Furthermore, the final ranking of those selected is also based on a geographical factor. At least 40-60% of the students attending the Public Onassis Schools will be from the municipal district in which the school is located. Teaching and administrative staff salaries will be covered by the Ministry of Education.
International Baccalaureate (IB) The English-taught two-year
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme will start to operate in the 2026–2027 academic year in specific public high schools.
Vocational High Schools (EPAL) Vocational High School (EPAL;
Epagelmatiko Lykeio). The EPAL has dual-diploma studies comprises two separate programmes taken in parallel earning, both, two separate qualifications in their own right, a "" (Apolytirio Epagelmatikou Lykeiou; Vocational High School Apolytirio; Vocational High School Diploma; i.e. High School Diploma; Upper Secondary Leaving Certificate) and a (Ptychio of Vocational Education and Training at HQF (NQF) level 4; i.e. Diploma of Vocational Education and Training at HQF (NQF) level 4; also is called Specialization Diploma or Specialized Diploma). EPAL High School Diploma can be awarded in Orientation Groups (specializations or streams) requiring an advanced level in a number of four different subjects (advanced level subjects, or also known as high level subjects), depending on the group. is
transliterated to "Ptychio" (Greek: ; Ptychio in
dhimotiki from 1976–present; or defunct ; Ptychion in
polytonic,
katharevousa up until 1976). The Greek word "" has translation into English as "Degree", it is a qualification term has common meaning in Greece. It signifies that it is a direct translation from the terminology in Greek as it appears in the Greek legislation. In Greece, the word "" is commonly used for titles of study from different education levels (secondary, higher etc.). It must not confuse with its usage in the English language, whereby the word Degree refers to Higher Education qualification title only.
Greece Universities' Degree is titled "",
transliterated to "Ptychio", signifies that it is a University Ptychio,
Higher Education Ptychio, Level 6 Ptychio. EPAL Diploma of Vocational Education and Training at HQF level 4 standalone parchment is an Upper Secondary Education Ptychio, Level 4 Ptychio. EPAL graduates have the option to choose Post-High School Year Apprenticeship Class ("Mathitia") by which it can upgrade the EPAL Diploma of Vocational Education and Training at HQF level 4 (Level 4 Ptychio) to Level 5. During the year, the students are working for 4 days in a workplace receiving
stipend and attend 1 day at school classes. Since 2021–2022 academic year, the Post-High School Year Apprenticeship Class graduates having Diploma of Vocational Education and Training at level 5, after successful specific entrance examinations (), allows to them admission into the Higher Education (level 6) to an undergraduate programme relevant to their Post-High School Year Apprenticeship Class specialty.
Vocational School (EPAS) of DYPA The Vocational School (EPAS) ( 1952–Present) of Public Employment Service (
DYPA) is 2 years' duration. Also known as
Apprenticeship Vocational School (,
Epaggelmatiki Sxoli Mathitias), shortened to EPAS Apprenticeship. Since 2021, EPAS Apprenticeship is a lower secondary
two-track education system, Dual VET ('
), having alternating periods in a school with theory classroom and at the workplace with work-(traineeship) practice experience ('), with terms are contractually regulated by law and labour agreement. Balance between school-and work-based training: in-company (ca. 70%) + school (ca. 30%). Student insurance and two-part agreement ('
) between the student and apprenticeship company are applied. Generally, the maximum number of students that can register in a given education programme is up to 20. Apprenticeship (') is based on the German dual learning system which combines classroom education with paid practical work in a business. EPAS Apprenticeship is operated by Public Employment Service (DYPA). The EPAS Apprenticeship provides its students in having an apprenticeship term work placement by finding and coordinating it. Students are entitled to receive at least the
national minimum wage for their age. The majority of these students are classed as unskilled workers (entry-level). Admitted students are aged from 15 to 23-year-old maximum who must have completed the gymnasium school. The EPAS Apprenticeship awarded "" (Ptychio of Vocational Education and Training, Level 3; i.e. Diploma of Vocational Education and Training at Level 3) after qualifying examinations of the National Accreditation Examinations ('''') will be held at EOPPEP examination centers.
Experimental Vocational School (PEPAS) of DYPA The Experimental Vocational School (PEPAS; Greek: 2021–Present), is also known as Experimental Vocational Apprenticeship School, founded in 2021 by Public Employment Service (DYPA) in collaboration with German-Hellenic Chamber of Industry and Commerce and Institute of the Greek Tourism Confederation (INSETE). Eligible to apply are those aged 18 years old and over, holders of at least a lower secondary school leaving certificate (gymnasium) and have a verified knowledge of a foreign language (English or French or German) at
level B2 in both written and spoken by holding a valid formal certificate. As of 2021–2022 school year, there are provide the specialities
Culinary Art Technician (cook),
Food & Beverage Service, Customer Service in the Tourism Business. The grading system in upper secondary schools is extended from 1 to 20 as opposed to 10 in middle school. The score of 20 is the equivalent to an A or 100 in the U.S. (see
grading systems by country).
Post-lyceum Year Apprenticeship Class of EPAL Post-lyceum Year Apprenticeship Class ( 2016–Present) is provided by Vocational Lyceum (ΕPΑL). Only EPAL graduates and Lyceum graduates hold EPAL Diploma of Vocational Education and Training at HQF level 4 are admitted to Post-lyceum Year Apprenticeship Class being regarded as a separate and distinctive stage of post-secondary education (i.e. '
). It includes 1 year post-secondary apprenticeship dual programme (non-tertiary; Dual VET two-track education system) having alternating periods in an EPAL school unit with classroom instruction (theory 1 day/week, 7 hrs per day) and at the workplace with work practice training (4 days/week, 7 hrs per day). All apprenticeships schemes should include a contract (i.e. '), wage and social security rights/benefits to student which is a trainee referred to simply as "apprentice". EPAL Apprenticeship Class programmes are based on Public Employment Service (DYPA) at its dual learning principle and follow the same quality framework for apprenticeships. Graduates of the apprenticeship class will receive "" (Certificate of Post-High School Year Apprenticeship Class). If they wish the Apprenticeship Class graduates are therefore eligible to take the National Accreditation Examinations (i.e. '''') will be held at EOPPEP examination centers. is the first in Greece non-profit, free of charge (without tuition), private Model Vocational Lyceum (PEPAL) located in the island of
Chios with specialties of Maritime Professionals, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Automation, owned and operated by company Tsakos Group of Companies founded by shipowner
Nikolas Tsakos.
Laboratory of Special Vocational Education (ΕΕΕΕΚ) Laboratory of Special Vocational Education (), 6 years
special education at HQF Level 2
Public Schools of Tourism Education Public Schools of Tourism Education () are operated by Ministry of Tourism. Types are the Schools of Tourist Guides, Further-training Programmes of Employees in Tourism Sector (non-formal education), and
Schools of Advanced Vocational Training (SAEKs). The SAEKs cover the specialties of Culinary Art (cookery), Bakery and Pastry (
baker and
pâtissier), Tourism Units and Hospitality Businesses (front office / reception, floor service / housekeeping, commodity education), Specialist of Business Administration and Economics in the Tourism Field.
School of Meat Professions (SEK) Α School of Meat Professions (SEK; 1977–Present) is accredited by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food. There are public and private schools of meat professions. The 300 hours programme has 85 hours theory classes at school and 100 hours laboratory classes (ca. 61.6%), 15 hours educational visits (ca. 5%), 100 hours in-company work-based training (internship, ca. 33.3%). The term is five hours per day, five days per week, for 12 consecutive weeks. The specialties of the School of Meat Professions are, Meat Processing Technician (meat cutter, butcher, Greek: κρεοπώλης), Animal Slaughter (Greek: εκδοροσφαγέας).
Vocational Training Schools (ESK) Vocational Training Schools (ESK; Greek: ) is 2-year post-gymnasium vocational education and training school at HQF level 3. Admitted students must have completed the gymnasium school. It can be public, private, day or evening school. It awarded "" (Ptychio of Vocational Education and Training, Level 3; i.e. Diploma of Vocational Education and Training at HQF level 3) after qualifying examinations of the National Accreditation Examinations will be held at EOPPEP examination centers.
Laboratory Centre (ΕΚ) Laboratory Centre ( 2013–Present), three years secondary education. Admitted students must have completed at least the lower secondary education school (gymnasium or its equivalent). Awarded "" (literally "Certificate of Vocational Training"). Awarded "" (Ptychio of Vocational Education and Training, Level 3; i.e. Diploma of Vocational Education and Training at HQF level 3) after qualifying examinations of the National Accreditation Examinations will be held at EOPPEP examination centers.
School of Advanced Vocational Training (SAEK) School of Advanced Vocational Training (S.A.E.K.; ; 2024–Present) (former Institute of Vocational Training (I.E.K.); ; 1992–2024), is 2 years adult post-secondary
vocational education and training and 960 hours at a work placement (experiential learning,
practicum). Admitted students must have completed at least the upper secondary education (lyceum). EOPPEP organization is the statutory body for the SAEKs. The SAEK awarded "" (Diploma of Vocational Education and Training, Level 5) after qualifying examinations of the National Accreditation Examinations ('''') will be held at EOPPEP examination centers. See a list of SAEK study programmes set out below, click on the "[show]": == National Skills Competition ==