Upper secondary students preparing for university will have fewer subjects to study if draft reforms being considered by the Education Ministry are implemented, the Greek Education Minister Anna Diamantopoulou announced this week.
But the students will be expected to study twice as much as they do now, Education Minister Anna Diamantopoulou said during an interview on Mega Television.
According to the planned changes, due to come into effect in 2013, Upper secondary students will study four subjects in their second and third years – instead of the current six – and will be tested on these four subjects at the end of the third year.
But the students will be expected to study twice as much as they do now, Education Minister Anna Diamantopoulou said during an interview on Mega Television.
Students’ performance in their first and second years at Upper secondary level will count as much as their university entrance examination result in their assessment for a place at university or technical college, she said.
The aim is for the new curriculum to be gradually introduced at schools around the country during the next academic year and for the new system to be introduced in 2013, she added.
Universities for the first time ever will also be in control of the entry of students into higher education by being able to set the cut off score that will apply for entry into courses.
Diamantopoulou did not comment on how a shortage of teachers at schools might affect the introduction of the new program, under which senior high school students will be expected to spend more time in the classroom.
The minister admitted there were about 2,500 vacant posts at Greek schools but said these positions would be filled over the next few months.
At the end of last month – after the results of university entrance exams taken by thousands of high school students revealed a significant deterioration since last year – Diamantopoulou heralded the need for significant reforms to secondary schooling and to university admissions.
Source: English Kathimerini, Express