Greece to close eight more minority primary schools in Western Thrace
The Greek government has decided to close eight Turkish minority primary schools in Western Thrace from the 2026-27 academic year, citing low student enrollment.
According to a decision published in the Government Gazette, five schools in the regional unit of Rodopi, two in İskeçe (Xanthi) and one in Meriç (Evros) will cease operations. At the same time, the minority primary school in Mehrikoz will reopen after reaching the minimum number of enrolled students.
The schools to be closed are:
Meriç (Evros): Dimetoka Minority Primary School.
Rodopi: Cepelli Minority Primary School, Delinasoufköy Minority Primary School, Omurluköy Minority Primary School, Hebilkoy Minority Primary School and Unteren Minority Primary School.
İskeçe: Beykoy Minority Primary School and Boyacilar Minority Primary School.
The closures are part of a broader restructuring of the education system in the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region, where a total of 47 schools will close, including 26 kindergartens, nine public primary schools, eight minority primary schools and four special education primary schools.
Greek authorities have applied the same policy of closing schools with low enrollment across the country's public education system, including minority schools in Western Thrace.
Representatives of the Turkish minority have objected to the decision, arguing that minority schools should not be treated in the same way as ordinary public schools. They maintain that the status of minority education in Western Thrace is protected under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, bilateral agreements between Greece and Türkiye, and international law.
