The Scientific Unit of Technical and Vocational Education delivers advisory opinions and makes recommendations for all issues concerning Vocational High Schools (known in Greek as EPAL) and the 4th optional year of apprenticeship. The Technical and Vocational Unit, by means of scientific and pedagogical criteria, advises on a series of matters concerning Technical and Vocational High Schools that include: section and specialty establishment, timetables, study curricula, subject assignments to teaching professors, textbooks and other educational material for Technical Education, research carried out in school units of secondary vocational education along with other pedagogical and scientific issues within its principal fields of activity and jurisdiction. As of the school year 2016-1017, according to law 4386/2016 and the relevant ministerial decision (Gazette 1489, B’, 26-5-2016), nine sectors operate in the 2nd grade, as follows:
As of the school year 2017-1018, 36 specialties operate in the third grade of Vocational High Schools, according to Gazette1489/τ. Β’/26-5-2016.
Students, who successfully complete the Vocational High School (EPAL) receive a High School Diploma (Apolytirion) and a National Qualification Framework level 4 specialty certificate. Moreover, students that wish to continue their school education can attend an optional year of apprenticeship (4th year) and by completion of this fourth year, after passing the required exams, they can be awarded a National Qualification Framework level 5 certificate. During their apprenticeship year, that has a nine-month duration, students can receive a daily allowance, defined at 75% of the legal, statutory, minimum unskilled worker wage.