Messages about the Greek education system have been constant and clear: the curriculum continues to be overloaded with concepts, often without first determining if students are capable of absorbing them. Schools demand “too much” and “too soon,” according to the latest report from the Greek version of PISA, the Programme for International Student Assessment, compiled by the Authority for Quality Assurance in Primary and Secondary Education.
The report, which focuses on both primary and secondary schools, highlights that a significant percentage of students are at risk of completing their compulsory education with functional illiteracy.
Early Enrollment Challenges
Demographic issues intersect with educational evaluations. Students who enroll in the first grade of primary school before turning six tend to perform worse than their older peers, as they struggle to meet grade-level expectations due to low school readiness. Alarmingly, there are no sufficient measures in place to support these students.
Although these performance gaps tend to narrow by the third year of secondary school, in many cases, they are never truly corrected. Greece’s knowledge-centered education model demands students to grasp abstract concepts at a young age, often expecting them to develop a range of skills far too early—a goal that is not consistently achieved.
Language and Mathematics: Areas of Concern
In language studies, the primary struggle is with vocabulary, reflecting a broader linguistic poverty influenced by a lack of reading habits and limited exposure to literature and books.
In mathematics, while primary and secondary students generally manage basic arithmetic with relative ease, they falter when required to solve problems that demand critical thinking. This gap points to a lack of critical analysis skills—not the fault of the students, but rather a flaw within the educational system itself.
Only 36% of students are reported to express and develop their own ideas, supporting their opinions with information from the text. In terms of vocabulary, just 56.74% of students provided correct answers.
In primary school mathematics, about 70% of sixth-grade students meet the learning objectives outlined in their curriculum. However, as they progress to higher grades, knowledge gaps in trigonometry become evident.
A Knowledge-Centric System with Missed Opportunities
The research concludes that the Greek education system remains heavily knowledge-focused, neglecting teaching methods proven to be beneficial—such as collaborative programs, projects, hands-on activities, and experiments. The emphasis remains on rote learning rather than fostering skills through interactive and practical learning experiences.
