Types of institutions

General lower secondary education is provided in gymnasia (lower secondary schools). Attendance lasts 3 years. It consists of grades A, B and C.
Students follow a common curriculum, without any differentiations.
In addition, some lower secondary schools offer an experimental curriculum or are oriented towards students with specific inclinations or educational needs.
The schools which provide compulsory secondary education and lead to the relevant certificates are the following:

Day lower secondary schools

Day lower secondary schools (imerisia gymnasia) are the main providers of general compulsory secondary education. They are attended by the majority of students in secondary education.  They constitute over 90% of the educational institutions providing general compulsory secondary education.
In Greece, there are 1566 day lower secondary schools.

Evening lower secondary schools

Evening lower secondary schools (esperina gymnasia) are attended by students over 14 years old, who are employed.  Attendance lasts 3 years and includes 3 grades: A, B and C which correspond to the grades of day lower secondary schools.
There are 75 evening lower secondary schools.

Lower secondary schools of special education and training 

According to l. 3699/2008 the special education lower secondary schools include the preliminary class and the next three grades A', B', C'. Primary school graduates with disabilities and special educational needs can be enrolled directly in the A class of the lower secondary school of special education and training, after an evaluation carried out by the relevant Interdisciplinary Asssessment, Counselling and Support Centre (KEDASY).
The curriculum timetable programs for the 3 classes of special education upper secondary schools are specified in the Ministerial Decision 103849/Δ3/26-8-2021.
The number of public special education lower secondary schools currently amount to 8. 
More information is available in Chapter 12.

Second chance schools 

Second chance schools  were established by l. 2525/1997 as a flexible adult education program that enables learners who have dropped education, before completing their compulsory education, to continue their studies and obtain a degree equivalent to the lower secondary school diploma.
The purpose of Second Chance schools, according to l. 4763/2020, is: 

• the completion of compulsory education for learners aged eighteen years and over,
• the reconnection of trainees with education and training systems,
• the acquisition of modern knowledge, skills and attitudes that will help adults in their later social economic integration and development,
• strengthening learners' self-esteem and
• to contribute to the integration of learners to the labor market or to the improvement of their position in the workplace. 

Attendance at Second Chance schools & Curriculum: 
According to l. 4763/2020: 

• To enroll in a Second chance schools you must have: a) completed the eighteenth year of age by December 31 of the year of registration or have exceeded the eighteenth year of age and b) not completed the compulsory nine-year education but obtain a primary school leaving certificate.
• Instruction in second chance schools may last up to two school years.
• The curriculum is open and flexible and aims to provide knowledge and develop skills and attitudes. The core of the curriculum consists of cognitive and literacy subjects, which are in line with the eight core competencies of the European Framework of Reference.

There are 86 Second chance schools throughout the country, 12 of which operating in Detention Facilities.

Geographical accessibility

In order to ensure the provision of secondary education to students of remote regions, attempts are made for the geographical distribution of lower secondary education schools according to the needs and specificities of local conditions.  In general, the establishment and operation of lower secondary education schools is the result of cooperation, recommendations and suggestions of the local community and the competent educational authorities.
Responsibility for the transportation of students living in remote areas, according to Ministerial Decision 50025/26-09-2018 falls within the region in which the school is based.  In particular, regional authorities offer free transportation to students of public lower secondary education schools. 

Admission requirements and choice of school

Attendance at lower secondary education school is compulsory.  In order to enroll in lower secondary education schools, students must hold a primary education qualification.
Students attend the lower secondary education school unit of the region of their permanent residence.  In cities where several schools operate, the boundaries of the areas of each school, as well as the maximum number of students are determined by decision of the local director of secondary education.  

Age levels and grouping of pupils/students

Attendance at lower secondary education schools lasts 3 years and consists of grades A, B and C. Students enroll in grade A at the age of 12, after graduating from primary school.  Enrolment may sometimes extend beyond that age, for example for students who have to repeat the same grade at the primary level.  Attendance is compulsory, as long as the student has not exceeded the age of 16 (l. 1566/1985).
Each grade consists of one or more classes, depending on the number of students, while the number of students per class cannot exceed the total number of 27 pupils (Joint Ministerial Decision 129818/Γ2/16-9-2013).

English Language teaching in lower secondary education follows a placement test in grade A.  If there are gaps in the foreign language required level of competence, students are placed accordingly in the respective levels (Ministerial Decision 135800/Δ2/23-08-2016).
As regards the second foreign language (French or German), students are divided in classes that run in parallel. In lower secondary education, where a single class of general education operates, A grade students are taught the second foreign language chosen by the majority of students (Μinisterial Decision 53476/ΓΔ4/28-03-2017).
Finally, concerning the subject Technology and IT, the class is divided into two groups, when the number of students exceeds 21 (Ministerial Decision 74442/Δ2/19-6-2020).
In lower secondary education, the teaching of specific subjects, as described in the detailed curricula, is conducted by teachers of corresponding specialisation. For example, the teaching of history is entrusted to a Greek language and literature teacher, mathematics to a mathematician, physics to a physics teacher, etc.
For the smooth operation of the school unit and if necessary, teachers are sometimes assigned the teaching of other subjects related to their broader field of discipline, (science or arts) such as the assignment of history to a foreign language teacher (Ministerial Decision 85980/Δ2/3-7-2020). 

Organisation of the school year

The organisation of the school year for lower secondary education is defined at central level.  The school year begins on 1 September and ends on 31 August of the following year.
The academic year for schools begins on the 1st of September 1st and ends on the 30th of June.
The teaching of subjects runs through two academic periods called terms. The first term lasts from 11 September to 20 January.  The second term begins on 21 January and ends with the end of the school year.   Between the 1st and the 30th of June, schools deliver the first period of exams, which include written follow-up revision exams on group A subjects -subjects taught in secondary education fall under 3 group-categories.

According to presidential decree 126/2016:
The first group (group A) includes the following basic subjects: 

1. Modern Greek Language and Literature (language teaching and modern Greek literature)
2. Ancient Greek Language and Literature (ancient Greek language, ancient Greek translated texts
3. History
4. Mathematics
5. Physics
6. Biology
7. English

The second group (group B) includes the following subjects: 

1. Geology-Geography
2. Chemistry
3. Civil Education
4. Religious Education
5. Second Foreign Language
6. Technology – IT
7. Home Economics

The third group (group C) includes the following subjects:

1. Music – Art
2. Physical Education
3. Skills development workshops

The teaching unit entitled “Skill development workshops” aims to reinforce the development of  students’ mild skills, life skills as well as technology and science skills.

From  school year 2024-2025, the "Active Citizen Actions" program is implemented across all grades of Primary and Secondary Education. This programme integrates the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations (UN) in 2015. It aims to develop skills in students and provides them with the opportunity to address issues related to: eradicating poverty and hunger, promoting good health and well-being, ensuring quality education, achieving gender equality, ensuring access to clean water and sanitation, promoting affordable and clean energy, fostering decent work and economic growth, advancing industry, innovation, and infrastructure, reducing inequalities, creating sustainable cities and communities, encouraging responsible consumption and production, taking action on climate change, preserving marine life and terrestrial ecosystems, promoting peace, justice, and strong institutions, and fostering partnerships to achieve these goals.

The purpose of the program is to prepare citizens equipped with critical thinking, collaboration, and social responsibility skills, who actively contribute to the creation of a sustainable society based on sustainability, social justice, and environmental protection.

The program covers all subjects in every grade and is implemented in various and diverse environments, particularly in schools, communities/neighborhoods, at national and global levels, and online.

Upon graduation from each educational level, every student receives, along with their diploma, a certificate listing all the activities promoting active citizenship in which they participated, as well as the corresponding grade in which these activities took place.

During the first ten days of September and before the next school year starts, students participate in the second examination period and re-sit follow-up revision exams on subjects for which their annual performance grade is below ten (10), provided that the number of these subjects does not exceed  the number of four. For Group A subjects, follow-up revision exams are both oral and written. For Group B and Group C subjects, follow-up revision exams are only oral.

No teaching and exams take place during Christmas holidays (two weeks), Easter holidays (two weeks) and summer holidays (from 1 July to 31 August).
During summer holidays schools remain open once a week for administrative purposes.
The days of operation of school units are approximately 189 annually.  They are organized in weeks of 5 days (Monday to Friday).  The number of teaching hours on a weekly basis amount to 33 hours for grades A and B and to 34 hours for grade C for day lower secondary schools; to 24 hours for grades A and B  and to 25 hours for grade C for evening lower secondary Schools.

 School timetables are set based on the detailed curricula by ministerial decisions and apply to all general lower secondary education schools of the country.  Details on the school programme timetables of general lower secondary education schools can be found in the section "Teaching and Learning in General Lower Secondary Education". 
Other types of lower secondary education schools, such as arts or music schools, where students are also taught arts or music subjects respectively, follow a slightly modified timetable. 

Organisation of the school day and week

The weekly teaching time per class is set at a central level and has universal validity for all day and evening secondary schools in the territory. Classes in day schools start at approximately 08:15 and end at 14:10, while evening classes start at 19:20 and end at 22:55. However, the distribution of lessons on a weekly basis is a decision of each school unit and is shaped according to its needs.

Remedial teaching classes (Compensatory education: Ministerial Decision 114342/Δ2/2023) operate in lower secondary education schools in order to:

• Reintegrate students in the learning process
• Facilitate students to improve their performance in order to complete attendance of the levels of compulsory Education
• Reduce early dropouts
• Increase percentage of access in upper secondary education

The term 'remedial teaching' means the attendance of lower secondary education students of an autonomous support teaching programme at the end of the daily school time. Students can attend the following subjects:

1. Modern Greek Language and Literature
2. Ancient Greek Language and Literature
3. Maths
4. Physics
5. Chemistry
6. English Language.

Remedial teaching is implemented in compensatory education (antistathmistiki ekpaidefsi) school centres. These school centres are staffed by groups of neighbouring lower secondary school units. The centres are appointed in each Directorate of Secondary Education by the Regional Directors of Primary and Secondary Education. Remedial education is provided in every school year and ends upon completion of lessons and the beginning of exams.

Additionally, a Central Committee for Monitoring, Control, and Coordination of the Remedial Teaching Program in lower secondary schools is established, which is tasked with:

1. the overall supervision of remedial teaching,
2. conducting on-site supervision at  compensatory education  school centres (antistathmistiki ekpaidefsi),
3. transmitting data to the ESPA Executive Structure (Partnership Agreement for the Development Framework) of the Ministry of Education, and
4. submitting a final report on the results of the implementation of the Remedial Teaching program to the Secretary-General for Primary, Secondary Education, and Special Education of the Ministry of Education.

In every school unit besides school classrooms, auxiliary classrooms, gym, event spaces, library  ,science lab and IT lab are provided. Every class has their own classroom per teaching year while the remaining facilities are used in turn by different classes depending on the weekly schedule needs or extraordinary events.