Education in Greece - Primary Education

Primary Education

Elementary schools are called "Dimotiká" (demotic, meaning municipal), a carryover term from a time when such schools were run by local communities. The name remains although it has been obsolete for decades. In the first two years pupils are not officially graded, and parents obtain feedback about their performance via oral communications with teachers. Grading begins in Year 3, and written exams are introduced in Year 5. Graduating from one year to the next is automatic, and pupils with deficient performance are given remedial tutoring. Years are called "classes", from first to sixth:

• Year 1 (Πρώτη δημοτικού): age 6 to 7
• Year 2 (Δευτέρα δημοτικού): age 7 to 8
• Year 3 (Τρίτη δημοτικού): age 8 to 9
• Year 4 (Τετάρτη δημοτικού): age 9 to 10
• Year 5 (Πέμπτη δημοτικού): age 10 to 11
• Year 6 (Έκτη δημοτικού): age 11 to 12

Enrollment to the next tier of compulsory education, the Gymnasium, is automatic. A normal school-day starts at 8.15 and finishes from 12.30 to 16.15 depending on the class and the school. The classes last between 30 and 80 minutes. The school year always starts in the second week of September and ends in the second week of June. The students have summer vacation (3 months), Christmas vacation (2 weeks) and Easter vacation (2 weeks). Furthermore, students take usually another four days off in order to celebrate their two national holidays (28/10 and 25/3).

Basic subjects:

• Modern Greek Language (9 hours/week)
• Modern Greek Literature (2 hours/week)
• Mathematics (5 hours/week)
• Environmental Studies (2–4 hours/week)
• Physical Education (4 hours/week)
• Music (2 hours/week)
• Art (2 hours/week)
• Computer Studies (2 hours/week)
• Theatrical Studies (1 hour/week)
• Flexible Zone (3 hours/week)
• English (2–4 hours/week)

Additional Subjects:

• Physics (2 hours/week and only for years 5 and 6)
• Geography (2 hours/week and only for years 5 and 6)
• History (2 hours/week and for years 3-6)
• Religion (2 hours/week and for years 3-6)
• Social & Political Studies (2 hours/week and only for years 5 and 6)
• Second Foreign Language (2 hours/week and only for years 5 and 6)

Grading System:

• 1st Year: no grades
• 2nd Year: no grades
• 3rd Year: A-E
• 4th Year: A-E
• 5th Year: 1-10
• 6th Year: 1-10