Greece to offer free state language certification for Gymnasium students

State Certificate of Language Proficiency e-KPG Greek public education foreign language certification digital examinations

Starting from the 2026-2027 school year, students in the third grade of Gymnasium in Greece will be able to participate in free electronic examinations to obtain the State Certificate of Language Proficiency (e-KPG). The program covers the four foreign languages taught in public schools: English, French, German, and Italian.

To develop this modern digital certification system, €20.876 million has been secured through the National Development Program 2026-2030. The examinations will be conducted entirely via computer at specialized Electronic Examination Centers. The system will utilize adaptive electronic testing to adjust difficulty levels based on student performance, ensuring a more accurate assessment aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance foreign language education in public schools, a policy direction involving Minister Sofia Zacharaki. Implementation will be gradual, with a pilot phase scheduled for late 2026 and full national rollout expected by 2030. The project involves collaboration between the Ministry of Education, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and ITYE DIOPHANTUS.

Entities

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki · ITYE DIOPHANTUS · Ministry of Education · Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports · National and Kapodistrian University of Athens · Sofia Zacharaki

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 3 SOURCES] Funding of 20.876 million euros has been secured from the National Development Program 2026-2030. www.newsbomb.gr
[● 3 SOURCES] Starting from the 2026-2027 school year, 3rd grade Gymnasium students can participate in free electronic exams for the State Certificate of Language Proficiency (e-KPG). www.newsbomb.gr
[○ 1 SOURCE] The transition to the digital system will be gradual, with a pilot implementation in 2026 and full national deployment by 2030. www.newsbomb.gr
[● 3 SOURCES] The certification covers English, French, German, and Italian. www.newsbomb.gr