Greece Ministry of Education introduces new school excursion framework

The Greek Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, under Minister Sofia Zacharaki, has introduced a new framework for school excursions and educational trips for primary and secondary education. A key change for primary education is the establishment of a minimum of six excursions per class per school year to promote experiential learning. The new regulations also include stricter safety protocols, such as requiring criminal record checks for travel agency owners and staff, and clearer guidelines for teachers acting as chaperones.

To address student privacy and safety, the framework regulates the use of mobile phones, specifically outlining procedures if a student records others without consent. For special schools, the minimum student participation rate required to hold an excursion has been reduced from 70% to 50%. Additionally, schools are encouraged to collaborate on trips to reduce costs for families.

In a separate initiative to support newly appointed teachers, the Ministry has partnered with SKY Express to provide a 30% discount on airfare. This measure aims to facilitate the relocation of educators to their new places of assignment. Eligible teachers will receive a unique code via SMS to claim the discount through the airline's website.