Exam Results for Teacher Appointments Hold Steady
In the wake of concerns regarding the difficulty of teacher entrance examinations, Demetris Chandriotis, the head of the examinations, has addressed these issues by revealing that the pass rates remain consistent with previous years. The recent announcement of the November 2023 exam results has shown that the success rate for aspiring teachers has not deviated significantly from past trends.
According to Chandriotis, the success rates from the last four series of exams, conducted in 2017, 2019, 2021, and now 2023, have ranged between 37 to 42 percent. “The results were more or less the same as the previous series of examinations,” Chandriotis stated, emphasizing that there was a notable increase in both participation and the absolute number of successful candidates this year. The increase exceeded 20 percent compared to the previous exams, with participation numbers rising from around 2,280.
The consistency in pass rates comes despite the implementation of a new system in 2015, which began to phase out the previous method of teacher placement. Under the new system, teachers are required to pass an examination specifically in their subject area to qualify for a position.
However, it’s worth noting that certain subjects have seen a particularly low pass rate in the latest exams. For instance, only seven percent of candidates passed in philology and maths, resulting in just 31 qualified Greek teachers and 23 Maths teachers. This stark contrast in pass rates across different subjects suggests a potential need for further examination of the testing process or support for teacher candidates in these areas.
Looking ahead, the plan is to make these subject-specific exams a biennial requirement for all teaching appointments by 2027. This move is expected to ensure that only the most qualified individuals are entrusted with educating future generations.
