International Baccalaureate introduced to 11 Greek public schools

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is being introduced to the Greek public education system for the first time. Currently, 11 selected public schools will offer the curriculum, with the goal of gradual expansion to more institutions.

The IB is a demanding two-year program conducted during the second and third years of high school. While instruction is primarily in English, Modern Greek language courses are also provided. Upon successful completion of final exams, students receive the IB Diploma, which is considered equivalent to the Greek high school diploma and is recognized by universities worldwide.

Although the IB was introduced to Greece 30 years ago, it has previously been limited to 16 private schools. The recent implementation follows a visit to Athens by Olli-Pekka Heinonen, the Director General of the International Baccalaureate and former Finnish Minister of Education, who emphasized the importance of preparing students with critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration skills for the future.