The Education Ministry’s Institute for Educational Policy is discussing the prospect of introducing a letter grading system (Alpha, Beta, Gamma) in junior high schools, in addition to a descriptive evaluation, such as good, very good and excellent.
According to a report in the daily Ta Nea, the institute aims to decrease the huge grade pressures that students face in the last primary school grades an in junior high school.
The ministry this year began implementing a pilot programme at 81 kindergartens, primary schools, and junior high schools.
In junior high schools, the existing 0-20 numerical scale will be maintained in tandem with the proposed new grading system.
The ministry’s ultimate objection is the abolition of the grading system. Currently, schools begin grading students in the final years of primary schools, on 0-10 scale, with 10 being excellent.
One reform already in place is the issuing of report cards every four months instead of every three.
In the second year and the third and last of high school, there will be three-hour and four hour daily classes.
