Greece announces school support and meal programs for 2026-2027

Greece has announced several initiatives for the 2026-2027 school year. The Ministry of Education, under Sofia Zacharaki, has defined the duties for psychologists (PE23) and social workers (PE30) to support students' socio-emotional development. This includes the placement of 246 psychologists in vocational high schools (EPAL) to provide psychosocial support, a program co-funded by the European Social Fund.

Additionally, the school meal program is set to begin on October 13, 2026. Managed by the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family and implemented by OPEKA, the program will provide approximately 249,247 hot meals daily across 1,982 primary schools in 159 municipalities. This represents an increase in both the number of meals and participating schools compared to the previous year. The program aims to meet nutritional needs through a Mediterranean diet and reduce social inequalities.