13th GYMNASIUM OF HERAKLION

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STRUCTURE OF THE GREEK EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

T I M E T A B L E

AGE

T E R T I ARY EDUCATION

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S E C ON A R Y E D.

P R I M A R Y E D.

Postgraduate studies

UNIVERSITIES

• Entity • Eccl/cal • Music • Sports • special

Lycee,Senior High school C

B

A

L A B O R M A R K E T

Greek Open University (long lasting education)

Technological Institutions

E.P.A.L

2nd course 1st course (complete) and B class A class

Gymnasium-Junior High School General,Music,Ecclesiastical,Sports,Special)

Elementary schools( ordinary,day-long,special)

Infant classes Day nurseries

Nursery schools (ordinary,day-long,special)

I.T.V.T

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The bell rings at 8.15 in the morning. The students should gather at the back school yard and announcements are announced by the Principle. Then ,they get into class. There are seven teaching periods everyday .Look at the following diagram. Diagram 1.

DAILY TIMETABLE ( from 8.30 a.m to 14.00 hours)

TEACHING PERIODS. BREAKS

1 8.15-8.55 a.m 8.55a.m to 9.00a.m 2 9.00a.m -9.50 a.m 9.50 a.m to 10.00 a.m 3 10.00 a.m to 10.45 a.m 10.45 a.m to 10.55 a.m 4 10.55a.m to 11.35 a.m 11.35a.m to11.45 a.m 5 11.45a.m to12.25 a.m 12.25a.m to 12.30 a.m 6 12.30 to 13.15 13.15 to 13.25 7 13.25 to 14.00 Teaching periods are finished.

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Diagram 2: School subjects. In the following diagram you can see the school subjects and the frequency they are taught weekly. SCHOOL SUBJECTS C L A S S A B C Religion 2hours 2hours 1hour History 2hours 2hours 3hours Mathematics 4hours 4hours 4hours Physics 3 hours 3hours Biology 1 2hours - - Chemistry 3hours 3hours Geography 2hours 2 hours - 1st foreign language-English (compulsory)3hours 2hours 2hours 2nd foreign language-either German,French or Italian (optional)

3hours 2hours 2hours

P.E (physical education) 3hours 3hours 2hours Home Economy 1hour 2hours Social and Political Education - - 2hours Modern Greek Literature/language 5hours 4hours 4hours Ancient Greek(original,translated) 5hours 5hours 5hours Biology 2 - - 2hours Technology 2hours 2hours 1hour

C Computer Science 2hours 2hours 2hours Music 1hour 1hour 1hour

Art 2hours 2hours 2hours Moreover there is a subject, called School Job Orientation, that is neither taught nor assessed in year three,class C.The objective goal of it, is to have the students oriented on the situation of job market and the types of schools that are available and also are included in the secondary level education, so that they can choose what type to follow as soon as they graduate gymnasium.Class is divided in two, in this case. Half of the students are taught either technology or computer science. A class is also divided in two at the time of computer science and technology in 1st and 2nd year(class A,B).Also Greek language teaching is divided into four branches that is: Modern Greek language, Modern Greek literature,Ancient Greek (translated original texts),Ancient Greek( original texts)

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CROSS –curricular issues:

Sexual education, does not officially included in the state curriculum as an autonomous subject but teachers of biology always have the opportunity to say things to their students related to it. As far as the drug addiction and racism concerns , there is only piecemeal information either in case the teacher is motivated by a text or the subjects he teaches. Furthermore the teaching of a matter like this, drug addiction, is not officially allowed by the ministry of education. But there can be a reference and a discussion on the matter, not only to the students but the parents as well, under the umbrella of the extra curriculum activities. Not serious problems of violence have to cope with. School violence or “Bulling”has been noticed lately but it is not the way it is in other European countries or U.S.A. We have to cope only with teenagers behavior and problems.

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DISCIPLINE ,CLASS MANAGEMENT SCHOOL RULES “The goal of the students’ board regulations, is that ,the real meaning and character of it, to be re-established and shown off , into democratic institutions, where all students working together ,can have their creative skills released .They can also realize what their responsibilities and their duties are in the daily school routine, through common effort and collective spirit and at the same time, their responsibility will be developed and their rights will be strengthened.” This is what the ministry of education and generally the Greek constitution claims as far as the students board concerns. Students’ elections are always held at the beginning of the school year by the end of October. First, the class board is elected and it is a procedure that takes place in each class where students vote the ones they believe they can be represented by, to the Principle, whenever it is needed so. This board is consisted by 5 regular members and 2 non-voting members. The teacher in charge of a certain class, can talk with his/her students and set the class management rules on, together.These rules should be followed by all teachers and students of the class. After that, a week later , the whole school board is elected by the students in general. This board is consisted by 15 regular members. There is an internal chart of discipline regulations, that has to be followed by students in cooperation with their teachers ,so that school can work as good as possible. They have to cooperate with the teachers’ board, in order to protect the school property, to keep school clean, to get into class on time as soon as bell rings. Also they have to get out of the classroom at breaks.They can also discuss and cooperate with their teachers and the Principle on any matter that may show up, that is concerned important either as far as the teaching procedure concerns , or the school management , so that students can be benefited afterall. Students must respect not only their teacher but respect each other.They have to be accurate on coming in the class on time, take part in learning process, be quiet while the teacher is teaching and keep their class clean and tidy.They are not allowed to eat ,drink or chewgum in class. Teacher can send a student out of class if he /she thinks that is prevented doing his/her job properly. Student then, gets an absence and is sent to the Headmistress office . If something very serious takes place the “guilty” student or students are taken to the teachers’ board where the students must explain the reasons why they had acted acted they way had .The students’ representatives can be present and support their classmates. Finally a punishment is given over the student after the teachers had discussed all options, had suggested and had voted.

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PAYING attention to diversity .

There are disabled students from time to time and we can say that they are treated well by their classmates who are already aware how to cope with such a matter. Students have already known about equality in diversity.They accept it and they respect it. There are students with special learning difficulties at school, who attend the special class of incorporation of students with special learning difficulties.These students should leave the “normal” class at the time of the subjects of Greek,(ancient Greek and Modern Greek) Science and Mathematics are taught and attend the special one ,with a teacher who is aware of special teaching methods and strategies so that can cope with the students’ needs. In our town there are special schools ,where students can attend special classes like ones for students with hearing problems, mentality problems and blind students.These classes are included in a regular school,so there is a mixed ability school community where students can share a common daily school routine .

Students Social Background

Since our school situated in one of the most prosperous suburbs of the town, our students come mostly from moneyed families. Most parents are well educated, (teachers,doctors,politicians,businessmen/women e.t.c) so we have to cope with problems such us spoiling and parents interference. On the other hand there is a great number of clever students that make our work easier. There are students from other countries as well ,students whose one parent comes either from a European country or from Asia ,Albania and from Balkan countries.Diversity is strongly stressed either through school activities or projects and discussion taken place in class.Fortunately not any racism phenomenons have been noticed so far.

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Diagram 3: School administration-organization.

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION

HEADMISTRESS

1st ASSISTANT MANAGER

2nd ASSISTANT MANAGER

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Diagram 4: PERMANENT STAFF AT SCHOOL TEMPORAL

1 GREEK LITERATURE/ LANGUAGE 14 1 2 MATHEMATICIANS 4 1 3 SCIENCE/ CHEMISTRY 3 2 4 RELIGION 2 2 5 ENGLISH LANGUAGE 2 1 6 FRENCH LANGUAGE 1 7 ITALIAN LANGUAGE 2 8 PHYSICAL EDUCATION 3 1 9 ARTS 1 10 SOCIAL / POLITICAL EDUCATION 1 11 HOME ECONOMY 1 1 12 MUSIC 2 13 TECHNOLOGY 1 2 14 COMPUTER SCIENCE 2 1 TOTAL 39 16 TOTAL 55

It’s good to be mentioned that there aren’t any subject consultors in each school autonomously, but there are such, who supervise teachers and schools within the prefecture ,whenever they think it is necessary to do it. Their role is purely a consultive one,just to help and consult teachers on any new teaching methods may appear either through special seminars or by show up himself personally. In other words there is an English Language consultor, consultor for Mathematics and so on.

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Diagram 5: EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

The above activities take place at school when the regular curricular activities and subjects finish. It is not compulsory neither for students nor for teachers. In this case only a small number of students take part , that is, only those who are interested in the subject. Students are given the chance to go on school trips not only in Greece but abroad too.They had already visited the European Parliament in Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxemburg, Cyprus, Germany. School joined many National Net School Projects. Furthermore a film club has been running at school for 16 years where students can watch films chosen by the teacher of P.E. Also, students with special skills in Maths, Music, Arts ,Sports can take part in competitions organized by either state or private institutions and associations. There is a female team of volley ball, a male football and basketball team that take part in the Prefecture school champion Cup having been distinguished many times. Generally ,our school is one of the most famous in Heraklion due to the well trained staff and the running of many projects. Three times a year, some National Festivities take place. On October 28th ( the Greeks held against Mousolini and the Germans- National Resistance), March 25th (Greek Revolution 1821 started ) and November 17th ( a stand was made against the Junta by students which was finally joined by the population in total).These dates are also National Holidays celebrated not only within the boundaries of the Greek state but wherever in the world there are Greek communities.On January 30th it is a school and religion holiday only, dedicated to the three Saints Gregory ,Ioannis and Chrisostomos who are the Patrons of Education and Literacy.

EXTRA

CURRICULAR

ACTIVITIES

ENVIRONMENTAL

EDUCATION

HEALTH-

CONSUMER’S

EDUCATION

CULTURAL- NATIONAL CELEBRATIONS-

FESTIVITIES

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PARENTS BOARD: It is consisted of five members which are elected by parents. They cooperate not only with the students board but the teachers and the principle too. Their goal is to protect their children’s –students rights whenever they think is necessary .They can also keep an eye not only on the good school management but individually on each one teacher’s personality and attitude in class so that can interfere. They can suggest things, to improve or make teachers’ work easier, such as individual behaviour management in class ,parents seminars e.tc. They contribute with money in buying teaching aids. Diagram 6: ASSESSMENT

The academic year is divided into three trimesters, as it is shown in the diagram below. Apart from the daily oral participation and the short regular tests, students must be given written tests within the time limits of each trimester. Written tests are compulsory in the first two trimesters whereas in the last it is optional for the teacher to decide whether to give the students ones or not.

TRIMESTERS

1st ( from September 11th to November 30th )

2nd (from December 1st to the end of February)

3rd ( March 1st to May 15th )

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FINAL EXAMINATIONS

The most hard and toughest school period of all, for gymnasium students is the one from May 19th to June 15th when they have to be examined on the whole ( 2/3?) curriculum having been taught so far. A student can pass the class ( year) according to the marks he had picked in total ,during the trimesters assessment, added the final examinations divided to four. The result should be 9.5 otherwise the student should repeat the exams in September. e.g A student gets in Mathematics : 1st trimester 10 2nd trimester 10 3rd trimester 12 Final examinations, 06 In total he gets 38 divided to 4 he gets 9.5 and he passes .If he gets 35 in total divided to 4 he gets 8.7 so he fails. Of course there are certain rules set on by the Ministry of Education that have to be followed in consideration ,as far as each student’s annual attendance concerns.Look at the diagram below:

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STUDENT ATTENDANCE

Annual amount of abcences: 114 ( 50 of them should be justified by either a parent or a doctor ) 64 can be non-justified.

There are certain regulations concerning the attendance matter that should be studied in details in advance before any final decision is taken by the board of the teachers. Each student case is completely different and should be studied seriously for his own good. If the case follows the state rules then the student could have the right to sit the exams either in May –June period or in September when the exams are repeated so that students have another chance to pass the class-year.

TEACHING METHODS Some years ago things were completely different in the Greek educational system.Teacher was the center of the teaching procedure.Students were mostly more passive in class. The general option of new teaching methods is to get students involved more and more, particularly the “ bad” ones. Furthermore new teaching methods are based on the holistic approach that is focused on student’s psychosociosentimental hypostasis. So that new teaching methods and approaching followed at school have to do with group work, projects ,and student’s initiative. Especially in foreign languages ,the European Framework is followed. Pedagogical procedure should be pleasant and creative giving the students the chance to express their objections and ideas.In this way self confidence is improved and those students who are kept aside due to low confidence are got involved and feel more useful and productive either in school community or in their family environment.

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A booklet of information about the educational system in GREECE

Table of contents Structure of the Greek educational system…………………………………………………3 Timetable:……………………………………………………………………………… .4

Subjects…………………………………………………………………………………….5

Cross-curricular issues.Ex:sexual education,drug addiction,domestic/gender violence …..6

Discipline,classroom management and school rules………………………………………7

Paying attention to diversity(new arrivals to school; blind ,deaf and handicapped students;……………………………………………………………………………………8

Social backround)…………………………………………………………………………..8

School organization ……………………………………………………………………….9-10

Extra curricular activities……………………………………………………………… …..11

Parents Board Assessment…………………………………………………………………12 Final examination……………………………………………………………………………13

Student Attendance Teaching Methods………………………………………………….14

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