Schools

Compulsory education in Crete, as in the rest of Greece, begins at age 6; many children attend either a public or private crèche as early as 2½ years of age. Most start, though, by attending kindergarten at age 5 and then enter primary school the following year. Primary education lasts for six years. From 12 - 15 years of age  students attend gymnaseio, or lower secondary school, which completes their  required education. Most children, however, carry on with their studies, attending three years of upper secondary school, either in unified studies or at a technical  vocational school. Public higher education is divided into Universities and  Technological Training Institutes. Admission is based on national exams which take place in the second and third years of upper secondary school. A large number of Greek students elect to do their university studies abroad. English-speaking children who enter the Greek public school system at an early age tend to adapt better and learn the language quickly.

The situation is more difficult for older children who do not speak Greek, but much depends on the individual child. At this time there are no English-language, British curriculum schools on Crete. If you want to ensure that your children do not lose touch with their native culture, the Cross Cultural Centre in Chania specialises in part-time English language and cultural programs for English-speaking and bilingual children. 

Learning Greek

A large number of Cretans speak English, which means it is possible to get by  without learning Greek. But you will be missing out on an important part of the  experience of living in a foreign country. Learning Greek might appear daunting. The alphabet looks very different from the English alphabet and word pronunciation sounds totally different as well. But in learning to communicate with your neighbours, you will not only enrich your daily life, but you will also be able to tap into a wealth of information that is only available in Greek. What's more, you will acquire a deeper appreciation of Cretan culture, history, art, architecture, food and people.

There are many Greek language schools in Chania and in some of the larger towns in the area. They offer various courses depending on your language ability, how many hours a week you wish to study and how quickly you want to learn. Or you may  prefer to have private lessons. This is a more costly option but it has the advantage of allowing you to learn at your own speed. The most important thing is not to  become discouraged; you can't expect to become fluent in a short time. Just carry on using the Greek you have learned at every opportunity.