Schools to screen students with 10 skills assessments

The Education Ministry is introducing mandatory career guidance for 15-year-olds, requiring students to complete 10 self-assessment tests before finishing lower secondary school.

Under legislation attached to a bill on performing arts education, students will access a digital platform through the government’s gov.gr portal to complete assessments covering life skills, professional interests, emotional intelligence, communication abilities, and decision-making capacity. Numerical, linguistic, and mechanical aptitudes will also be measured, alongside personality profiles and self-esteem indicators.

Following the tests, students will attend two sessions with a specialist psychologist from a national registry maintained by the National Organization for the Certification of Qualifications and Vocational Guidance, with a parent present. The program extends career guidance earlier than previously, targeting ninth-graders at a critical educational crossroads.

“The measure combines timely intervention, more individualized guidance, and digital support,” Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki said.

Career counseling was first introduced in Greek schools in 1953 but remained largely underdeveloped.