New permanent teachers, a new curriculum structure, literature textbooks, a «debut» for the Onassis Public Schools, as well as… vegetable gardens in the schoolyards—these are just some of the things the new school year, which officially begins next Thursday, September 11, 2025.
Appointments of Permanent and Substitute Staff
With the placement of new permanent teachers, as well as the hiring of substitute teachers before the first bell of the school year rings, the Ministry of Education aims to ensure that schools are as prepared as possible for the start of the new school year.
In total, 8,223 permanent teaching positions were filled in August 2025: 5,627 general education teachers and 3,196 special education teachers. At the same time, 993 members of the Special Education Staff (EEP) and Special Support Staff (EBP), bringing the total number of appointments in education for 2025 to 9,816.
In addition, the first phase of hiring 18,566 substitute teachers for primary and secondary education was carried out, in Special Education and General Education, so that they would be in schools across the country in a timely manner to ensure their smooth operation. At the same time, the recruitment of 6,225 members of Special Education Staff (EEP) and Special Support Staff (EBP) was announced for Special Education schools (SMEAE), parallel support services, the Centers for Interdisciplinary Assessment, Counseling, and Support (KEDASY), and the School Educational Support Networks (SDEY) within KEDASY.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that, starting last school year, the ministry had moved forward with the creation of 600 new positions for psychologists and 600 new positions for social workers across 3,000 schools. Their role involves providing psychosocial support and counseling to families, children, and the school community in general.
Changes to the curriculum
During the new school year, 2025–26, a new curriculum will be implemented for all grades in elementary and middle school, with the aim of giving teachers more freedom, which, according to the Ministry and the National Institute of Educational Policy (IEP), represents an opportunity for «more targeted and meaningful instruction, respecting each student’s pace and the needs of the class.».
The learning objectives for each subject have been reorganized and divided into two categories:
1. Core—mandatory courses that ensure all students acquire fundamental knowledge and the necessary skills, and
2. Additional—optional—elements that allow the teacher to choose what extra material to teach and to adapt instruction to the interests, level, and specific characteristics of their class.
It is worth noting that this new curriculum design is in line with the implementation of the new curricula and the multi-textbook system, which is expected to be implemented in 2026–27.
According to sources at the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), the final announcements regarding the new curriculum structure are expected shortly, before schools reopen.
On the Way to the Multi-Volume Book
Although the books that students will receive this year will be the same as last year, However, starting in late September, the new textbooks for all grades up to the first year of high school are expected to be delivered to teachers via the Digital Library. This will give them the necessary time to select the books they will use under the ’multiple textbook” system and to properly prepare their lessons. The goal is to finalize the selection of textbooks for each subject by the spring of 2026. The new textbooks are expected to be distributed to schools in print form in September 2026, replacing the current ones.
The «philosophy» of the multi-volume book, however, will become more accessible to students through books containing complete literary works in the Literature course, as well as through the eVivlio platform (https://evivlio.gov.gr/), where educational and literary books are available in digital format for playback (audiobooks).
«First Bell» Again—and… in a Different Way
In 431 schools across the country, the «first bell» will ring once again, with modernized facilities, through the «Marietta Giannakou» program, while at the same time, all 12 Onassis Public Schools in Attica, Macedonia, and Thrace will also open for the first time.
The government and the ministry have placed particular emphasis on the reopening, after 17 years, of the elementary school in Pserimo, so that the two young students who completed kindergarten on the island will not have to move to Kalymnos. As previously announced, a teacher will be assigned at the start of the school year, either from among the newly appointed teachers or through the secondment of a teacher from Kalymnos.
In addition, for the first time, the bell will ring for the Drama Art High School, located in Petrousa, and for the Myleon Day General High School, located in Kala Nera, Magnesia, as well as at the first Vocational High School to operate within an adult correctional facility, at the Larissa Prison.
Economics in Middle School
Starting this year, ninth-grade students will have a new course: Economics. The Ministry’s goal is to use financial literacy to help students become familiar with concepts such as the value of saving, income management, how markets work, and the concept of entrepreneurship.
Vegetable gardens in preschools and elementary schools
In selected preschools and elementary schools, the program «School Vegetable Gardens: With Critical Thinking and Vision, We Collaborate, Rejoice, and Create,» will be implemented during this school year (2025–26), with the aim of combining sustainable development with educational practice.
According to the announcement made by the Ministry of Education at the end of the previous school year, the schools participating in the program will be provided with metal planters, soil, small gardening shovels, greenhouses, watering cans, and seed kits for the first crops, in order to establish the necessary infrastructure for carrying out the activities.
Second «Season» for the Digital Tutoring Program
The Digital Tutoring Program, which the Ministry of Education has described as «extremely successful,» will continue to operate this year as well. For example, last year, more than 3,500 thousand hours of live online classes were held, and students were given the option to watch them with subtitles or in sign language.
Athena Kastrinaki
