Schooling Options in Greece
Vocational High School (EPAL)
To be eligible for registration in vocational high schools (EPAL) in Greece you need to be either employed and over the age of 16 or an adult. In these schools, students attend general as well as specialized courses focused on a variety of sectors such as Agriculture, Administration and Economics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Informatics, Healthcare, and Applied Arts. There are also reception classes for students coming from foreign countries. All lessons take place in the mornings or evenings and the duration of the studies is 4 years. At the final stage, students may pursue an internship or apprenticeship to gain experience in their field of interest. Upon successful completion, students are granted a Vocational Lyceum Graduation Certificate
Lyceum (GEL)
The most common choice for Gymnasium graduates under the age of 20 years old is the General Lyceum. Classes take place between mid-September and mid-June and the total duration of the studies is 3 years. Each academic year corresponds to three grades. The 1st grade is an introductory, orientation year with classes focused on transmitting general knowledge, the 2nd grade includes three directions, namely Humanities, Science, and Technology, among which students are required to choose their direction of preference, and the 3rd grade is similar to the 2nd but the technology direction operates in two distinct courses: i) Technology and Production and ii) the Information Science and Services. Students coming from foreign countries may also attend reception classes. After the 3rd year, Lyceum graduates are awarded a Lyceum Certificate (Apolytirion Lykeiou). Students who want to access the tertiary education are required to take the Panhellenic National Exams (Panelladikes Eksetaseis) to ensure their admission to a Higher Educational Institute in their field of choice.
Evening Lyceum
The evening Lyceum (Esperino) follows the same principles as the General Lyceum but classes take place in the evenings. The school is for adult graduates of a Lower Secondary Education Institute (Gymnasium or international equivalent) and underage working students. Graduates are awarded a Lyceum Certificate which is also required for admission to Higher Education, provided that students take nationally set examinations. There are also evening Vocational High Schools (Esperino EPAL) for students working during the day.