True to its promise, the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) government is eradicating the so-called “Bank of Topics” for secondary schools from the exam period of May-June 2015. The data bank of quesions required high schools to be given 50% of marks to students from questions submitted by teachers around Greece from a random draw with a number of these sometimes not taught or checked as to their validity. Furthermore, these grades counted from the first year of high school to the final year’s results that the students received.

A new circular sent by Alternate Education Minister Tasos Kourakis on Wednesday said this system is to be abolished for the first and second years of high school. The results of first and second high school students will no longer count for their university entry.

Henceforth, examination material from each course will be recommended by teachers and have the approval of the school director. The exam material will need to be made known to student at least five working days before the end of classes (usually two weeks before a study period prior to exams).

The general average of 9.5 out of 20 (less than 50%!)is to be given as a passing grade.

The introduction of the “Bank of Topics” generated criticism by some quarters that students could be tested on material they were never taught. As a result, private tutorial schools noted a sudden (and for them welcome) increase of students in their afternoon course, which would not otherwise have saught extra tutoring.