The Panhellenic high school exams have begun today, with the country’s 100,000 final-year students sitting for Modern Greek today in order to secure one of the 70,305 places in Greek universities.

The exams begin today and will conclude on the 12th of June, when all candidates will be tested in Principles of Economic Theory.

The subject of Modern Greek was focused on the concept of humanism, the lack thereof and efforts to restrict the lack of humanity. An extract from I.M. Panagiotopoulos‘ «Modern Man» was included.

A copy of the exam subjects (in Greek) is available here.

Online test subject bank proves controversial

Aside from final-year students though, fresh year high school students will also sit for Panhellenic tests, with the government introducing a new controversial exam system, which involves drawing 50% of exam subjects from an online “test subject bank”.

So far many educators and academics have been critical of the exam bank, arguing that the tests are “rushed” and “contrary to school teaching practices”. Teachers have pointed out that many of the online tests are excessively difficult and doubt whether the curriculum will be enough.

Students and parents react to school mergers

The Ministry of Education’s plans to merge schools prompted students and parents to symbolically occupy the 102nd elementary school in Gyzi for two hours.

Teachers and parents argue that the mergers will result in less funding being available to schools, while the quality of education will suffer.

Student commits suicide in Giannitsa

The first day of exams unfortunately was marred by tragedy, as an 18-year-old student in Giannitsa committed suicide.

According to reports, the 18-year-old jumped off the sixth floor of a building next to his school, shortly before he was due to sit for his exams.