NEWS

Figures for provinces show large differences

The data published by the NSS in September 2003 on 2001 education levels among the general population aged 6 and over are much more analytical than those in prior censuses. Table 2 is based on these statistics. In the first section, the population of the country’s 13 regions, plus the country total, is classified numerically by education level. The second section gives the percentage per level for each one of the 13 regions and the country as a whole (the line of figures for each region adds up to 100). The last column in the second section gives the average education level quotient for each region. The third section shows women as a percentage of the total. Higher, lower The second section of Table 2 shows that there are huge inequalities in the various education levels among the 13 regions. MAs and PhD’s and illiterates show the greatest differences. Great inequalities from region to region can also be observed among university graduates and those who dropped out of primary school. – Attica has the largest proportion of PhDs (0.45 percent), followed by Central Macedonia, Epirus and Crete. Western Macedonia (at 0.07 percent) has the lowest. – MAs again are highest in Attica (1.03 percent), followed by Central Macedonia, Epirus and Crete. Western Macedonia has the lowest proportion (0.14 percent). – University graduates amount to 11.23 percent in Attica, which is followed by Central Macedonia, Epirus and Thessaly. Central Greece has the lowest percentage, (5.29 percent). – Attica has the highest proportion of technical college graduates (3.98 percent), followed by Crete, Central Macedonia and the Northern Aegean. The Peloponnese has the lowest (2.16 percent). – The proportion of senior high school leavers is 36.96 percent in Attica, which is followed by Central Macedonia, the Southern Aegean and Crete. Epirus brings up the rear with 22.80 percent. – The Southern Aegean has the highest proportion of junior high school leavers (13.13 percent), followed by the Peloponnese, Crete and Central Greece, while Eastern Macedonia and Thrace come last (9.43 percent). – The Northern Aegean has the largest proportion of primary school leavers (37.53 percent), followed by the Ionian Islands, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, and Western Macedonia. Attica has the lowest (5.92 percent). – Primary school dropouts are highest in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (9.44 percent), followed by Western Macedonia, Epirus and Thessaly (3.85 percent). – Illiterates are highest in Thessaly (6.46 percent), followed by Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Epirus, the Ionian Islands. Attica has the lowest proportion (2.02 percent). From the last column in the table’s second part, it is clear that as far as the average education level is concerned, Attica, Central Macedonia and Crete are first, second and third, respectively, while Eastern Macedonia and Thrace come last. This is due to the fact that Attica (mainly in the area of the capital) and in Central Macedonia (mainly in Thessaloniki) have the largest numbers of higher education institutes in the country, the largest student numbers, as well as the bulk of administrative services, central bank branches and headquarters of large companies, which to a considerable extent are staffed by graduates of universities or technical colleges. Apart from Attica and Central Macedonia, Crete, Epirus and Western Greece also have a high proportion of PhD holders, basically due to the presence of universities in these areas (in Iraklion, Rethymnon and Hania, Ioannina and Patras respectively.) Women Women are 50.6 percent of the total population across education categories (last line in the second-to-last column of the third part of Table 2). But their representation in education levels varies from region to region. The female population accounts for 30.3 percent of PhD holders in Attica, the highest proportion in the country, and 18.8 percent in the Northern Aegean, the lowest in the country. The highest and lowest proportions of females in the relevant education categories were: MAs, 41.1 percent on Crete, 25.2 percent in the Northern Aegean; university graduates, 49.3 percent in Attica, 41.4 percent in the Northern Aegean; technical college graduates, 51.4 percent in Central Macedonia and 32.1 percent in the Northern Aegean; senior high school leavers, 51.8 percent in Attica and 43 percent in the Northern Aegean; junior high school leavers, 47 percent in Attica and 42.3 percent in the Peloponnese; primary school leavers, 55.1 percent in Attica and 47.5 percent in the Ionian Islands; children in primary school, 48.8 percent in Thessaly, 47.4 percent in Western Greece; primary school dropouts, 67 percent in Attica and 58.1 percent Thessaly. Women account for 82.9 percent of illiterates in Epirus and 64.5 percent in the Northern Aegean.

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