Greece to add IB program to 13 public schools in 2026

From September 2026, thirteen Greek public secondary schools—including standard, experimental, music and artistic lyceums—will open sections of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP). This marks the first time the IB, previously limited to private schools as a pathway to elite universities abroad, will be offered within the state education system.

The move is part of a wider strategy to make Greece’s schooling more outward‑looking and internationally competitive, alongside the creation of new model schools, public lyceums, English‑language university programmes and branches of foreign universities. Unlike the traditional Greek system focused on the Panhellenic exams, the IB evaluates students continuously over two years, emphasizing critical thinking, research, collaboration and community initiatives.