The curricula and timetables for Primary and Secondary Education are
drawn up and proposed to the Ministry of Education by the Pedagogical
Institute and, since the school year 1998-1999, the curricula for
Primary and Secondary education have been considered as part of a single
philosophy which is applied by the establishment of the Uniform
Curriculum Framework for Primary and Secondary education (Law 2525/97).
Specifically:
Curricula constitute complete guides to the educational task and include
mainly:
Clearly formulated objectives, per subject, within the framework of the
general and special objectives of education for each level.
The material to be taught is determined for each level in accordance
with the objective of the subject; it is proportional and adequate to
the requirements of the timetable and to the pupil's abilities to
assimilate. It is structured in individual units and subjects.
Indicative directions concerning the method and means of teaching for
every unit or subject.
Curricula are drawn up, tested experimentally, evaluated and reviewed
constantly to reflect developments in the field of knowledge, social
needs and the progress made in the Science of Education.
The curricula, especially those for the nine years of compulsory
schooling, have internal coherence and a uniform development of their
content.
Textbooks for pupils and teachers are based on the curricula. Curricula
are developed on six levels, one for each of the six grades of primary
school. Thus, we have one curriculum for the 1stgrade, another for the
2nd, and so on.
Minor differentiations from the above timetable apply to schools with
few teachers (e.g. one teacher, two teachers etc.), the main
differentiating factor being that the number of teaching hours for
schools with one and two teachers increases to thirty (30) per week.
Teachers must follow the curriculum in terms of both its content and its
stratification into levels corresponding to the six grades of the
primary school. All the courses are compulsory for all pupils and are
considered to be of equal value. In the vast majority of primary schools
all the courses in one grade –or section– are taught by the same
teacher, except for English, Physical Education and Music which are
taught by specialized teachers. Teachers are obliged to follow the
curriculum. However, the method they use to approach the teaching goals
is a matter of personal choice and, certainly, a product of their own
education, their further training and the pedagogical guidance offered
to them by school advisers. To the same end, however, the Pedagogical
Institute provides instructions for better teaching, both in the
curriculum texts and especially in the teachers' books that necessarily
accompany every course for every grade.
Text books are provided free of charge, with most
subjects also having a test book for homework exercises.
All lessons follow a particular structure. For instance,
in Greek language lessons there will always be a story
or a poem to read with grammar and syntax exercises,
dictation and sometimes composition tasks to complete.
Religious education covers both the New and Old
Testaments as well as Christian orthodox ceremonies.
Mathematics includes geometry and the books will include
theory, examples and exercises for every lesson. Physics
includes chemistry. History begins in an introductory
way in the 3rd class, the 4th class deals with mythology
and ancient Greek history, the 5th class involves
looking at the history of the Byzantine Empire
culminating in modern Greek history by year 6. The
subject of geography begins with local and national
geography before broadening into Europe and world
geography by the 6th class.
A programme of Remedial Teaching (Enyschitiki Didaskalia)
is provided at the primary level in the courses of
Language and/or Mathematics aiming to help pupils who
have difficulties in understanding and assimilating the
subjects taught, and enhance the educational and
cultural level of the pupils, especially those who have
learning difficulties.
Finally, All-day Primary Schools (Oloimero Demotiko
Scholeio) are in operation, with an extended timetable
and an enriched Curriculum. These schools, however, are
legally obliged to implement the relevant curriculum
with optional implementation of study programmes of the
next day's subjects, programmes which develop pupil's
creativity and remedial programmes for pupils with
learning difficulties.
more information you can get from the Greek Ministry of
Education
http://www.ypepth.gr/en_ec_home.htm
