The Greek government is formally opening discussions on a major reform of the country’s secondary education system, centered on the creation of a new National Diploma that would redefine the role of high school.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis chaired Tuesday’s meeting at the Maximos Mansion. He described the initiative as the beginning of a broad discussion rather than the announcement of finalized decisions. He stressed that education reform should rise above party lines and electoral cycles, calling for participation from political parties, educators, parents and students. The aim, he said, is to design a modern system that responds to rapid changes in learning and the labor market and restores high school as an autonomous and meaningful stage of education.
“High school must not be merely a sterile space for preparing students for university admission. It must have its own distinct autonomy and equip young people with the skills they need, regardless of the path they choose in life,” Mitsotakis said. He added that not all students go on to higher education and pointed to the government’s parallel investment in strengthening technical and vocational training.
The formal process will begin next week in Parliament, at the Committee on Cultural and Educational Affairs. The dialogue is expected to last nine months, unfolding in distinct stages, with the goal of drafting legislation by the end of the year.
Officials clarified that the proposed changes will not affect students currently enrolled in high school or those in their final year of middle school. The nationwide university entrance exams will not be abolished. The earliest possible implementation date for the new system is the first year of high school (1oth grade/ 1st grade Lyceum) in the 2027-28 academic year.
According to the government, the reform will be built around five broad objectives: strengthening the curriculum so that all students share a solid common foundation of knowledge and skills; improving school life so that education extends beyond textbooks and testing; enhancing teacher training through continuous professional support; upgrading school and digital infrastructure to ensure equal opportunities across the country; and clarifying governance structures to promote accountability and institutional continuity.
The national dialogue will be coordinated by a committee chaired by Michalis Sfakianakis, rector of the University of Piraeus. The group will also include three deans and scientific advisers tasked with overseeing all pillars of the reform. Sfakianakis emphasized the need for a stable and fair evaluation system with broad political consensus, arguing that education policy should function as a long-term national strategy rather than shift with each change of government. He also pointed to the importance of incorporating international data and new technologies into the redesign of the system.
