In Greece, as in the other countries of the European Union, the major issues concerning teachers and teaching staff of all educational levels are summarized as follows:

• Initial education
• Conditions of service, terms of employment
• Continuing professional training

Teachers in Primary and Secondary Education

Initial teacher training for both primary and secondary education falls under the university sector of Higher Education. All teachers—whether in pre-primary, primary, or secondary education—must hold at least a first-cycle degree.

The appointment and recruitment process is governed by laws 4589/2019 and 4823/2021, which introduced a new legislative framework for the appointment of permanent teachers in primary and secondary edcuation and members of Special Education and Special Support Staff as well as the recruitment of substitute and hourly paid teachers for both general education and special education. Recruitment is carried out by the Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection (ASEP).

Specifically, appointments/recruitments are based exclusively on ranked lists by subject area and specialty, compiled by ASEP upon request from the Ministry of Education, in accordance with educational needs. Candidates are ranked using objective criteria defined in l. 4589/2019, including academic qualifications, teaching experience, and social criteria. These lists remain valid until the end of the second school year after their publication in the Government Gazette. (see Section 8.2 "Entry to the profession").

The procedure is open to all those who have the formal qualification for appointment to primary or secondary education. Those who are interested may apply for appointment as permanent and/or temporary substitute or hourly teachers or members of the special education staff and special support staff  in the manner specified in the relevant ASEP notice.

For the purpose of verifying the qualification of primary and secondary education staff, diplomas, as well as postgraduate and doctoral degrees awarded by foreign educational institutions, shall be accepted under the conditions set out in Chapter 8.2  "Access to the profession", in accordance with l. 4653/2020.

With regard to the status of teachers of Primary and Secondary Education, transfers, secondments and reassignments of teachers of these levels are regulated by legislative provisions, indicatively of the  laws 1566/1985, 4812/2021 and 4823/2021 ( see also Chapter 8.2. "Staff  status" and Mobility and transfers").

Regarding issues of salary classification and development of Primary and Secondary Education teachers, l. 4354/2015 and l. 4917/2022 are in force  (see Chapter 8.2. "Salary and Grade Development" and "Teachers' Salaries").

L. 4547/2018, as supplemented by l. 4842/2021  refers to the organization and staffing of public primary and secondary education services, and in particular to the issues of:

• Selection and evaluation of primary and secondary education

• planning and evaluation of the educational work

• teachers' training.

Academic teaching staff

Although no University school or department in Greece is solely dedicated to the initial training of academic staff, certain qualifications are mandatory for appointment to teaching or research positions in higher education institutions. Specifically, candidates must hold a doctoral degree, and their PhD thesis or research must align with the subject area of the intended position. 

According to l. 4957/2022, academic teaching and research staff at universities are classified into three main permanent ranks:

• Professor

• Associate Professor

• Assistant Professor

In addition to these permanent ranks, institutions may also employ adjunct professors under fixed-term private-law contracts. These contracts typically span one to three academic years, are renewable, but total teaching service as an adjunct at the same institution cannot exceed five academic years. 

Vocational Training Educators

Vocational Training Educators, as well as staff at other levels, shall receive initial training at Higher Education Institutions, in order to obtain a teaching qualification.  Once their educational competence has been recognized and certified by the National Agency for the Accreditation of Qualifications and Vocational Guidance (EOPPEP), Vocational Training Educators are registered in the Register of Trainers.

The "Youth and Lifelong Learning Foundation" takes all necessary measures for the professional education and continuous professional training of its employees, which includes Vocational Training Educators.