Lessons About Teaching Maths and Science That We Can Learn from the Performance of Greek Students in the Panhellenic Exams

The STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) have attracted the interest of the scientific community and organisations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), mainly because of the demand for professionals in these fields, which is expected to increase. The cultivation of scientific skills and interest in these specific fields is cultivated from the early school years, so the role of the school is important. Students' performance in the Panhellenic examinations was chosen for analysis for two reasons. Firstly, because students take these exams at the end of secondary education, which reflects the knowledge they have acquired throughout their schooling. Secondly, because their participation in the Physics and Mathematics exams is based on their own choice, we can assume that they have a special interest in these subjects. The research, through its method of analysis, contributes to understanding the level of students' knowledge and provides guidelines for its improvement.