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Eurydice

EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice

Greece

The organisation of the academic year in Greece is as follows:

Beginning of the academic year 

The academic year in the field of higher education regarding undergraduate programmes of study begins on the 1st September of each year. The start of the academic year for postgraduate studies is determined by the Operating Regulation of the respective programme of study.

National information

Greece - Teachers' salaries and allowances

Teachers' salaries and allowances

  • Teachers’ remuneration is regulated by top-level authorities.
  • The minimum qualification level for teachers at all education levels is ISCED 6. In addition, they undergo a selective procedure by the Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection (ASEP). Further qualification in teaching and pedagogy is required for primary,, lower and upper secondary levels. 
  • The salary progression of teachers based on years of experience. Completion of two years of service per salary scale allows a teacher to enter the next salary scale.
  • Teachers serving in public schools with permanent contracts are civil servants.

School heads' salaries

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    National information

    Greece - School heads' salaries and allowances

    School heads' salaries and allowances

    • School heads’ remuneration is regulated by top-level authorities.
    • The minimum qualification requirements for school heads at all levels is ISCED 6. In addition, they must have 12 years of work experience (at least 8 years teaching service).
    • Salary progression for school heads is based on years of service (minimum 2 in the respective grade) as a teacher or school head (according to the teachers’ statutory base wage grid). 
    • School heads are civil servants.

    Teachers' salaries

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      National Information

      Further readings

      National education systems - Greece | Eurydice (europa.eu)

      Fee and financial support policies

      Organisation of the Academic Year in Higher Education

      Steering documents

      There are no educational guidelines for ECEC settings for children under the age of 4. 
      The provisions of the Standard Regulation of Operation for Municipal Infant/Child Care and Child Care Centres” (Joint Ministerial Decision 41087/29-11-2017) constitute the minimum requirements, while each municipal council decides on the regulation of the municipal infant care, infant/child care and child care centres under their authority.

      Place guarantee to ECEC

      The starting age for compulsory pre-school education is age 4 (l. 4521/2018). 
      Children aged 4 and 5 attend pre-school education in nipiagogeio (ISCED 020). The implementation of this framework started during the school year 2018-19 in 184 municipalities of the country.

      Ηome-based publicly regulated ECEC provision operated on  a pilot basis in 6 out of 332 municipalities. The project entailed the provision of caretaking of infants and toddlers in their house by carers. The "Neighbourhood Nannies" project, co-funded by the "Human Resources, Social Cohesion" programme of the PA 2021-2027 aimed at parents, runs throughout the country, to cover part of the carer's fees for infants from 2 months to 2.5 years old. As of May 2025 there will be full implementation of the programme throughout the country.

      Admission requirements and choice of ECEC setting

      All children coming from a respective Municipality may be enrolled at child care and infant/child care centres (ISCED 010).

      Infant/child care centres admit infants from the age of 2 months, on certain conditions; otherwise, infants from the age of 6 months up to their compulsory pre-primary school age may be enrolled. 

      Child care centres admit children from the age of 2.5 years up to their compulsory pre-primary school age.

      The Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs & Sports implements special programs and supports alternative educational structures. The aim is to provide education, that meets the needs of people of a different educational, social and cultural background.

      In this context, the following types of schools are in operation: