Friday, September 11, is the first day of school for children, parents and teachers across Greece, as classes begin for the new school year.
As is customary, the new academic year will begin with the traditional blessing ceremony (“agiasmos”) held at schools across the country. Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki will mark the start of the school year in Heraklion, Crete.
The new school year brings several significant changes to Greece’s education system. For the first time, 11 public schools will offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, giving students the chance to earn an internationally recognized diploma. New or updated curricula will be introduced across the education system, and Ethics will also be taught from the third grade of primary school through the final year of high school to students who are exempt from Religious Education.
Additionally, students in the third year of lower secondary school will be able to take the State Certificate of Language Proficiency exams online and free of charge in English, French, German and Italian. The government’s Digital Tutoring program will also expand this year to students in the first and second years of high school.
New facilities and sport equipment have been slated for some 238 schools, while eight new public Onassis Schools are scheduled to open.
The Education Ministry is also introducing EduPlan.AI, a new system designed to analyze data and help forecast staffing needs more accurately across different regions.
Schools should be safe spaces
In her message ahead of the new school year, Minister Zacharaki encouraged students to speak openly about their needs, ask for help and actively participate in school life.
“School should be a safe space of acceptance and respect,” she said, emphasizing that every student should have room for their questions, ideas, talents and difficulties.
She urged students not to be afraid of making mistakes and reminded them that asking for help is part of the learning process. Zacharaki also stressed the importance of cooperation between parents and teachers, thanking educators and families for their continued support and contribution.
She further highlighted the need for equal opportunities in education, saying that every child – “from the smallest island and the most remote village to the center of the largest city” – should have the opportunity to dream and move forward.
The emphasis on safe and inclusive schools comes amid continuing concerns about the experiences of some students. Recent reporting has highlighted concerns about the safety of LGBTQI+ students in Greek schools.
Education still a challenge
The new measures come as Greece continues to face questions over the level of public spending on education. According to Eurostat data for 2023, Greece allocated 3.3% of its GDP to education, placing it among the EU countries with the lowest levels of spending. Recent analysis has also examined Greece’s relatively low education expenditure compared with other EU countries.
At the same time, according to 2024 Eurostat data, Greece reported the lowest ratio of pupils to teachers across the EU, at 7.4 pupils per teacher.
