Greece, officially known as the Hellenic Republic or Hellas, is situated in Southeast Europe with a population of around 10.4 million. Athens is the capital and largest city, followed by Thessaloniki. Positioned at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, Greece shares borders with Bulgaria and North Macedonia to the north, Albania to the northwest, and Turkey to the northeast. It is surrounded by the Ionian Sea to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and the Aegean Sea to the east. Covering an area of 131,957 km², Greece comprises a peninsular mainland, the Peloponnese peninsula that is separated from the mainland by the canal of the Corinth Isthmus, and around 6,000 islands and islets. The country is predominantly mountainous, with 80% of its terrain consisting of mountains or hills, and boasts a coastline of 16,000 km, with 7,500 km found around the thousands islands of the Greek archipelago. Greece operates as a Parliamentary Republic, with Greek as the official language, and is a member of the European Union, using the Euro as its currency.
Education in Greece is enshrined in Article 16 of the Greek Constitution, which sets out that: ‘Education constitutes a basic mission for the State and shall aim at the moral, intellectual, professional and physical training of Greeks, the development of national and religious consciousness and at their formation as free and responsible citizens’. The same article also guarantees that "Art and science, research and teaching shall be free and their development and promotion shall be an obligation of the State". The Greek education system is under the central responsibility and supervision of the Ministry of Education,Religious Affairs and Sports. The formal Greek educational system includes:
- Primary education
- Secondary education
- Second Chance Schools (SDE)
- Post lower secondary vocational education and training, level 3
- Post-secondary vocational training, level 5
-
Higher education
The education sector in Greece has significant changes and developments. Some of the key trends are:
- Digital Transformation and Innovation: Schools and universities are increasingly using digital tools, AI, VR, and AR to enhance learning. Online and hybrid learning models are becoming more common.
- Vocational Education and Training (VET): There is a strong focus on aligning educational programmes with labour market needs, expanding VET programmes by creating 130 new Training Guides for professions that meet modern labour market needs.
- Inclusivity and Equity: Steps are being taken so that education is accessible to all, regardless of their socio-economic background, with initiatives to support disadvantaged students and promote gender equality.
- Environmental Awareness and Sustainability: Schools keep incorporating environmental education into their curricula and adopting sustainable practices.
- Higher Education Reforms: Reforms have allowed
zsation, attracting foreign students and establishing partnerships with institutions abroad. -
Lifelong Learning and Adult Education: There is an emphasis on lifelong learning, with more opportunities for adults to continue their education and acquire new skills. Programmes like Second Chance Schools are being expanded.
Sources - NOTE ON THE GREEK ECONOMY - Bank of Greece