Legislation in Greece regarding students with high abilities

 

The revised Constitution of 1975, Section 16, paragraph 4, states that “all Greeks are entitled to free of charge education throughout all grades in public schools. The State strengthens students that are distinguishable and also those students who stand in need of assistance or special protection, according to their capacity.”

None of the educational laws or the legislation on special education, from 1980 to 2000 (1143/1981, 1566/1985, 2817/2000) mentioned the gifted children as children with special educational needs and special abilities.

Law 1566/1985 on “Structure and Operation of Primary and Secondary Education” officially recognizes the purpose of developing creative thinking for students. It also refers to the establishment of sports and music schools in some cities of Greece.

Law 75/1975 “On extracurricular sports” and Ministerial Decisions Γ4/902/29-9-1988, Γ4/1150/30-8-1994, Γ4/1206/4-7-1995). Special Sports Facilities in Secondary Education apply to all classes of Sport High Schools. They concern for pupils already identified from Sports Federations and other sports institutions, in cooperation with a five-member sports committee, which through specific exams, select the students for these schools including talents in sports, some already recognized athletes and also students who belong to sports teams.

Law 1566/85, Article 5 paragr. 9, Article 6, paragr. 1, Ministerial Decision 3345/ 2-9-88 and amended Γ2/2513/13-6-1989, Law 2158/93, Article 8, paragr. 2, Ministerial Decisions Γ2/1887/1-4-93, Γ2/1685/2-3-95). In Secondary Education, Music High-Schools are established and offer specialized music courses to selected students, through specific exams, who are interested in music education

Law 2817/2000, Article 1, relating to: “education and other provisions for people with special educational needs”, the organization and operation of the K.D.A.Y. (“Centers for Diagnosis, Evaluation and Support”, Ministerial Decision number Γ6/4494, 8/11/2001) and the S.M.E.A. (“Schools of Special Education”), referring to the support and assistance to persons with special educational needs, mainly by limiting them to those characterized by impairments and special educational needs. Provisions are also referred to infants, children and adolescents that do not belong to the previous cases “but they are in need of special educational approach and care for a certain period or for the whole period of school life” (paragraph 3) On October 29th, 2003, in the XIV Plenary Meeting of the Hellenic Parliament a bill was passed that states: “In Article 1, paragraph 2 of the Law 2817/2000, the following paragraph has been added: “Special educational treatment may benefit people with special abilities and talents”.

On August 26th of 2008, in the Law 2817/2000 on Special Education, in Article 3, paragraph 2, a reference to gifted students was added, as following: “Students with special educational needs who have one or more special mental abilities and talents developed in a higher level than the expected for their age require special education”.