Polydorides, G. (1978). Equality of Opportunity in the Greek Higher Education System: The Impact of Reform Policies. Comparative Education Review, 22(1), 80-93. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.proxy2.library.illinois.edu/stable/1187826

The equality of opportunity for education in Greece is something that has been an issue for years starting after the end of World War II. For higher education, researchers from this journal believe it is a direct correlation to the socioeconomic status of a student, more importantly their fathers occupation. As a result of their socioeconomic status, researchers believe that students are not set up for the same success and opportunities of higher education. For example, having the funds, the education to pass college entrance exams, and living in a location that is easily accessible to the universities. As a result of this, there were many policies put into place in order to work to solve this problem. For example, “free education for all” abolishing all university fees for students. They also set up policies to increase the number of admitted students and to make entrance exams less difficult. Although there have been improvements to the opportunity gap in Greece, it is unsure whether it is due to the policies, the financial crisis making steady improvements, or the increased number of Greek students and abroad students interested in higher education.

Padeliadu, S. & Papanikolaou, G. & Giazitzidou, S. (2014). Implementing inclusive education in Greece through co-teaching.

The Greek special education system is one that is similar to the structure of the special education system here in the US. They focus on parallel instruction or co-teaching, where students are included in a classroom with a general education teacher, and an additional special education teacher who is in the classroom as an aide to students with disabilities. This research study focused on examining if this type of instruction is most successful for students with disabilities both academically and socially, as well as the impact it has on students in the classroom without disabilities. Data from both the general education teacher and special education teacher showed that students with disabilities made social and leadership growth, although the issue of exclusion still existed in the classroom. Academically, students with disabilities still struggled with learning material, although this had no effect on the students without disabilities.

Marseilles, M. (2010). Greece: An Expensive Free Education. University World News.

In this article, it discusses the “Expensive free education” that exists in Greece’s higher education system financial structure. Although Greece promotes that their high education is free of fees for students, there are many strings attached with this that make it have high costs. For example, students must take a college entrance exam where the weaker students are weeded out and not accepted into higher institutions. Instead, these weaker students must take additional classes at a private institution that have high costs and are mandatory in order to retake the exam and try to pass. In addition, Greece is a smaller country yet the Universities are widely spread throughout. As a result of this, students must pay for things like rent, living expenses, and additional cost of living fees. As a result of the low funding that these institutions receive from the government, it makes their high-quality education lower than it could be.

Kakana, D. (2017). Mapping the Impact of Economic Crisis on Greek Education: Teachers' Views and Perspectives. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, Vol. 7, No. 3; March 2017. Retrieved from https://www.ijhssnet.com/journals/Vol_7_No_3_March_2017/16.pdf

This research study examines the effect the financial crisis in Greece had on young students, public school units, and teachers. As a result of the financial crisis, many families fell into poverty, unemployment, and poor living situations causing effects that were pushed onto young students. As a result of this, researchers believe that a lot more responsibility was placed onto teachers not only with teaching academics, but providing young children with the emotional support they needed. In addition, with a lack of government funding to public schools, teachers have been expected of more and more work with pay cuts and less compensation. This study found that students were less involved in school and additional activities, but parents of low socioeconomic status still found the funds to be able to pay for food, clothes, and basic living needs. They found that many school units had a lack of funding and resources causing their building to be run-down and less staffed as well.

(2018). Greece can turn its education system into a source of inclusive and sustainable growth. OECD Better Policies For Better Lives.

The education system in Greece is one that was strongly affected by the financial crisis that occurred in recent years. Not only affecting funding but students access to a good education as well. Public spending decreased by almost 36% causing a decrease in materials and resources as well as an increase in substitute teachers around the country. As the economy begins to get back onto its feet after this crisis they must also put strong resources onto the education system as it is central to the society and economy. Setting students up with higher education will allow them to be successful in getting jobs in the future.

Education and Schools in Greece. Expat Arrivals.

The Greek education system is one that is special to their country. For example, public schools in Greece are only instructed with the Greek language, and in order to receive instruction in another language like English, parents must pay to send their child to a private institution, no longer being free education. In addition, homeschooling in Greece is illegal and not acceptable in the country unless there are specific circumstances. Students only being required to attend school from ages 6-15 where they are offered a free education, can then choose to further their academic career either at an academic school or a technology school. As schools are free, the academic crisis has had an effect on this, and some things are now being a cost. For example, textbooks.

DIONYSSIOS G. (2007). The ‘Response’ of the Greek State to Global Trends of Educational Policy Making. European Educational Research Journal, Volume 6, Number 1, 2007 doi: 10.2304/eerj.2007.6.1.25. Retrieved from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.2304/eerj.2007.6.1.25

The economic system and education system of Greece is very different than other countries around the world. In some respects, they are ahead, and in some they are behind. By not having a required higher education past the age of 15, researchers of this study fear that it is leading to their unemployment they have because many cannot fulfill jobs without an education past junior high. In addition, it is pointed out about the free school that they have. Although this is great for students, it could be having an effect on the economy and quality of education these students receive. This journal seeks to compare and contrast the Greek systems to those around the world being able to assess what is working for countries and what is not working for others.

Fastiggi, W. (2013). A BRIEF HISTORY OF EDUCATION (& EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY). Technology For Learners.

The Greeks are seen as responsible and the creators of the primary and secondary education systems around the world. From the very beginning, they viewed an education as essential in order to set their men up for success at war through physical education, as well as teaching to read and write. In addition, the Greeks were the first to use some form of technology in their education system in order to write in school. The Greeks viewed technology as essential to a successful education system as it furthered learning and worked together to be most successful.

OECD. (2017). Education Policy in Greece A Preliminary Assessment. OECD Better Policies For Better Lives.

With the economic crisis in Greece, the government conducted a preliminary assessment of the Greek education system. As the success of education has decreased and less students are being set up for a successful future due to decreased funding and lack of teachers, researchers in this article seek to assess data as well as develop policies in order to fix many of these issues and create a better education system and successful economy for the future of Greece. These polices include improvement in assessing learning outcomes, as well as getting funding from outside resources. Reintroducing school self-evaluations is also another policy researchers think is critical to the future success.

Tsami, E. & Anastasopoulou, A. (2016). Teaching ICT in Greek Secondary Schools. International Journal of New Technology and Research (IJNTR) ISSN:2454-4116, Volume-2, Issue-12, December 2016 Pages 01-06. Retrieved from https://www.ijntr.org/download_data/IJNTR02120017.pdf

This research study seeks to examine the teaching of information technologies in the secondary education systems in Greece. This introduction and influence of technology teaching in the classroom has been strong and widespread throughout. This research study assesses the current IT situation as well as suggests improvements. The most important suggestion is: “Preparation programs for teachers - students should be integrated into a comprehensive framework that is defined by technological and pedagogical dimension of Information and Communication Technologies ICT”. Although this study finds IT controversial as many have found that technology has a negative effect on the social components of education.