The National Dialogue, with the aim of forming an inter -party consensus for the National Baccalaureate and the new entrance exam system, was opened today by the Minister of Education, the Minister of Education, Sofia Zacharaki.
“We do not want to surprise, we do not want to change the Pan -Hellenic exam system, but to give it a perspective. There will be no surprise and no danger to today’s classes.
It is time, but also a need, to start discussing super -party so that we can lead to the end of 2026 in one point of view and in one proposal, especially for the implementation of the National Baccalaureate, which may be applicable from 2029 -2030 onwards, “the Minister of Education, the Education Minister, assured.
“It is important to say that everything in education takes time. So children who are in high school right now are not going to take exams with another system, because they are kids who have already begun to prepare. It would be at least irresponsible on our part to make changes on the go when someone is already in a specific level, “Ms Zacharakis said.
At the same time, he agreed with PASOK’s Education Division, Stefanos Parastatidis, –the party whose Commission convergence– That “today’s meeting must be a kick -off for the beginning of an institutional, meaningful, open and reliable dialogue with a roadmap and a clear timetable for the reform of the Lyceum, the National Baccalaureate and the System of Access to HEIs”.
“The institution of entrance exams is a timeless reference point for our country, has a strong educational social and emotional footprint, with decades of implementing different models and with tests in the number of courses.
So the proposal for the National Bachelor’s Degree is not just a conversation about an educational reform that a minister would like to accomplish, because we know that they want time and are usually not associated with ministerial terms.
We are aware that it is a conversation that will take a long time and it takes a lot more time to bear fruit, but we have the national debt and duty to start and make this discussion specific and with timeline, “said Mrs Zacharakis and Complete:
“Together with the Institute of Education Policy, but mainly with our teachers in front of them, because without them nothing can be done, we want to shift the burden of” examination “logic to a logic that gives a basis and emphasis on the overall journey and progress of the student. We want the role of the school to be strengthened.
We know, through many international studies, that nationwide exams are a stressful process that, especially for children at a sensitive age, is very stressed out not only at the time of the examination but also during the preparation period. They show that 20% to 25% of adolescents show these symptoms, with girls and students from the most socially vulnerable groups, more affected. “
As the Minister of Education pointed out, “the timing is right, before the start of the new school year, so that we have a lot of time ahead of us to devote, and discuss it more is the high school we want and desire, and what we do.”
He then spoke of “the need to redefine nationwide exams, with a new model focusing on the student”, noting that “the discussion should not be linked to government terms”.
“Greece is entitled to and can proceed with its own bold but balanced reform, such as the one we propose with the National Baccalaureate.
The National Examination Organization proposes the link between nationwide exams with the National Baccalaureate, as it is applied in many European countries, with the substantial reinforcement of the high school educational role, with new books, which are currently written, delivered, and from September 2025, they will be available to their teachers. And of course it is open to both scientific associations and to all those who can really contribute to this very important part, “he said.
Ms. Zacharakis emphasized the necessary reinforcement of the Bank of themes, which, he said, “in the new system with the National Baccalaureate will be a key tool perhaps the most basic.”
“Certainly a mentality that exists does not change overnight. Nor can I say that a minister will pull out a magic wand and suddenly the approach of the tutorial will change. What I want to quote and evaluate is the serious efforts made in recent years like the one with the digital tutorial, “he noted.
Ms. Zacharakis also spoke of “a credible degree of studies that will open ways, not only to higher education, but also to knowledge, self -knowledge and personal development”.
“Part of the National Bachelor’s Degree will also be the State Certificate for Informatics, so that children can be able to publicize specialization and know -how mainly for digital, but also the State Language Certificate in its electronic form. Both have joined co -financed programs from the NSRF so they can work much earlier, “he said.
“I’m here, and we’re here, to hear you, and it won’t be the last time we’re discussing. We want and believe in the part of the national dialogue. And you know that the people of education, we find a way to talk to all parties and from all the approaches because we put the good of the children above all, “concluded Mrs Zacharakis.
Positions of opposition parties
PASOK MP, Stefanos ParastatidisHe proposed, “at the initiative of the Ministry of Education and in cooperation with the IEP, to form the context of the national dialogue on high school and the system of access to higher levels: Political-Party-Parliamentary- Self-Government, Academic- Scientific and Society”.
As he said, “in a reasonable time, in one year from today, to collect the first conclusions coded and sorted by utilizing artificial intelligence” and to be “a new meeting of the Commission on: One Year of National Dialogue on Greek High School, National Baccalaureate and Access to Higher Education”.
“If today we are just another discussion, without continuity, we will have missed a great opportunity.
But if today we light the spark for something wider, for a sincere, open, national dialogue with principle, continuity, consistency and purpose – then we may talk about a great educational reform that has actually actually. It is time to see education, not as a field of party confrontation, but as a national affair. Not as a mechanism of reproduction of inequalities, but as a lever of liberation of potential, “concluded Mr. Parastatidis.
SYRIZA MP, Dionysis Kalamatianhe spoke of “an existing system of nationwide exams that has been overcome by reality and modern needs and helps maintain and expand inequalities and injustices”.
“In particular, the Lyceum has been transformed into an exam workshop, with the 3rd High School being canceled. Entrance to the public university is not virtually not through the school, but beyond that, where thousands of families spend huge sums on the preparation of their children, “he said.
Commenting on the National Baccalaureate, he argued that “as the government shows, it seeks to establish a system that will multiply the exams, enhance education and undermine the educational function that not only will not reduce inequalities in the educational process, but there will be more cost -effective access to the public.”
Mr. Kalamatianos emphasized, “on the upgrading of the pedagogical project, programs and high school diploma, the possibility of free access to universities and two -year curricula within universities, for EPAL graduates, who will be entered without exams.”
“Everything that has been announced is part of government and wider urban preparation and social fermentation plans for high school changes, reactive, but aiming to make it even more competitive even more classy. Access to universities will further raise class barriers to popular families and children, “said KKE MP Ioannis Delis.
“The majority of the government has shown very quickly reflexes that do not naturally display them in other cases, immediately utilizing PASOK’s passage for today’s meeting,” he said, adding:
“The purpose of the changes is to poor high school from lively lessons, critical for young people such as artistic education or social science courses. They are essentially suggesting a high school, educational, extermination, but in golden packaging of the so -called National Baccalaureate. You make the three -year three -year exam. The proliferation of the exams is not their abolition. “
“Obviously they need changes, but they must be on a stable education system that will not start in the middle, but from the child’s preschool age,” said the Greek solution spokesman, Sofia Asimakopoulou.
As she said, her party’s proposal is, “the substantial upgrading of the Gymnasium Vocational Guidance and the upgrading of the Secondary Education access system with 80% of the Second and 3rd High School program for the extensive orientation groups that will arise from 20%”.
“No objection to the launch of a national dialogue, but the problem is the political line for implementing the proposals,” the New Left MP Meropi Joufi said.
At the same time, he talked about “an entrance examination mechanism, exterminating, with a class filter, which not only does not enhance equal access to the public university, but is exhausted in the vestibule of exams and the bloody expenses that families are forced to suffer.”
The MP of NIKIS, Spyridon Tsironis, He described “important to have a honest national dialogue with the participation of all stakeholders and especially teachers, in order to make substantial proposals for a public education system rather than an elitist school that excludes social strata.”
The MP of Freedom Cruise, Diamantis Karanastasisplaced particular emphasis on “strengthening and linking artistic courses with schools” and “targeting for properly trained students”.
At the same time, he described as a “positive step in the National Baccalaureate”, stressing that “more fair and balanced steps must be taken towards a modern educational policy that will correct problems with social and educational inequalities through a non -reliable and reliable system.”