A new university admission system featuring the National School Leaving Certificate, sweeping reforms across senior high schools, a stronger Digital School initiative, the integration of artificial intelligence through the Edu AI platform, the introduction of the International Baccalaureate (IB) in public schools, and a new Economics curriculum are among the headline interventions by the Ministry of Education ahead of the new school year. This year is considered pivotal for the changes and long-term planning of the Ministry of Education. Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki has stated that this year lays the groundwork for reforms that will unfold over the coming years — spanning curricula, textbooks, educational content, and students’ everyday school life. According to ministry data, more than 1,270,000 students are enrolled across 13,842 schools, served by over 145,000 permanent teachers. This year, 5,259 permanent teaching positions were filled, bringing the total number of appointments since 2019 to 53,912. Regarding substitute teachers, the ministry’s goal is to have approximately 30,000 educators in post by September 8. Out-of-classroom secondments have been reduced to 1,590, down from 1,833 in 2025–26 and 2,047 in 2024–25.
Read also: National School Leaving Certificate: The plan for the new senior high school and what changes lie ahead for students
New school year: The 15 changes students and teachers will encounter from the very first bell
- EduPlan.AI
EduPlan.AI is a new digital staffing planning system that combines organic positions, operational needs, demographic shifts, and school characteristics to produce more accurate assessments of staffing requirements by region.
- Rent reimbursement
Particular emphasis is being placed this school year on supporting teachers who serve far from their home. Measures include a double rent reimbursement allowance and inter-ministerial initiatives to leverage public property for the renovation of apartments to house teachers, in collaboration with local government authorities.
- The “Marietta Giannakou” programme
669 schools have already been renovated under the first two phases of the “Marietta Giannakou” programme, with feasibility studies now beginning for a further 500 schools under the same initiative.
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)
New schools constructed through Public-Private Partnerships will also open their doors during the new school year.
- Defibrillators
A major equipment procurement programme is underway in schools: 6,479 defibrillators will be distributed alongside a first-aid training programme, and sports equipment will be supplied to 4,550 schools.
- Personal lockers
Personal lockers will be installed in primary schools throughout the year, allowing students to safely store their books and school supplies and reducing the weight of the daily school bag.
- Interactive learning systems
Schools will have access to 44,164 interactive systems by the end of the school year. Over the summer, 2,900 new interactive whiteboards were delivered, with 5,000 additional units to follow. A total of 117,121 robotics sets have also been distributed. In addition, 1,600 lower secondary school science laboratories will be equipped with new materials, new musical instruments will be sent to music schools for the first time in 17 years, and new equipment will be provided to arts schools across Greece.
- Onassis Schools
Eight new public Onassis Schools have been established, and this year International Baccalaureate programmes are being introduced in 11 public schools for the first time.
- Language proficiency certification
A pilot scheme for free digital State Language Proficiency Certificates in English, French, German, and Italian is launching for students in the third year of lower secondary school (Year 9).
- Digital Tutoring Platform
The Digital Tutoring Platform, which already has more than 410,000 users, will expand to include live lessons for students in the first and second years of upper secondary school. A digital assistant for personalised, individualised use of the platform is also in development.
- Economics curriculum
Through the new school economics programme FinStart, 40,000 primary and secondary school students will learn how to manage a budget, evaluate financial decisions, and identify the risks of digital transactions.
- Innovation Centres
The number of Innovation Centres is increasing from 13 to 18, broadening student access to robotics, coding, and digital tools.
- Special education
In the area of special education, 7,230 inclusion classes support 71,184 students. Two new Special Education Support and Counselling Centres (KEDASY) are being established in Heraklion, Crete, and Santorini, along with a digital platform for managing and tracking applications. Nine new assessment tools have already been provided to KEDASY centres to deliver meaningful support to children and families.
- National Dialogue
55 sessions have already been held with the aim of staying on schedule and delivering the National Dialogue committee’s proposal for a new university admissions system by November 2026. A public digital consultation involving students, parents, teachers, and stakeholders is forthcoming, backed by scientific documentation and timely communication. The goal is to design a system that goes beyond academic performance alone and reflects students’ overall learning progress — one that captures a student’s full educational journey through the gradual accumulation of results, rather than dependence on a single three-hour examination.
- Curriculum update
The multiple-textbook policy will be implemented in September 2027, accompanied by newly updated curricula.
Originally published in the Apogevmatini newspaper
