New school year in Greece begins on Thursday, September 11

The new school year in Greece will begin on Thursday, September 11, bringing with it several important changes in education. These include the appointment of thousands of permanent teachers, updates to the national curriculum, the use of literary books, the launch of Public Onassis Schools, and even the introduction of vegetable gardens in school playgrounds.

The Ministry of Education aims to complete the hiring of both permanent and substitute teachers before classes officially start, ensuring schools are fully prepared. In addition, 600 psychologists and 600 social workers will take up posts across 3,000 schools, offering support and counselling to students, families, and the wider school community.

The revised curriculum gives teachers more flexibility to adapt lessons to the needs of their students. While core knowledge and skills remain compulsory, teachers will now have the option to introduce additional learning goals based on the interests and abilities of each class. Another innovation is the gradual introduction of multiple textbooks per subject, which will be fully applied from the next academic year.

This year, selected kindergartens and primary schools will also introduce vegetable plots as part of a new class. The project aims to encourage teamwork and critical thinking, while combining education with sustainable practices.

Meanwhile, the successful “Digital Tutoring” programme enters its second year. Last year, more than 3,500 hours of live online lessons were delivered, many of them supported with subtitles and sign language interpretation. The Ministry intends to continue and further develop the programme in the coming year.