Participatory decision-making in a "democratically" centralized education system

The purpose of this article is the theoretical investigation of the relationship between the centralized character of the Greek educational system and whether it is a deterrent to the implementation of participatory administration and the active involvement of teachers in decision-making processes. Firstly, the theoretical presentation of the basic concepts (Greek educational system, participation of teachers in decision making, participatory administration) being the subject of this paper, followed by the presentation of selected data from empirical studies conducted in over a period of 20 years and specifically by 2001and up to date. Although the sample of research presented is not large enough to allow generalizations, nevertheless it frames within these 20 years the stigma of a centralized Greek educational system, which does not allow teachers to participate in decision-making processes related to their education reality.