Greece to hire 45,000 substitute teachers by year-end

Greek Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki announced that the second phase of substitute teacher appointments will take place in late September to address staffing gaps in schools. This follows the initial phase, which saw the hiring of nearly 30,000 substitutes—the largest first-phase recruitment in the last decade.

The Minister expects the total number of substitute teachers to reach approximately 45,000 by the end of the year. Permanent teachers and special educational staff were already positioned in schools as of September 1. In addition to educators, the Ministry is hiring psychologists, social workers, and occupational therapists to support student needs.

Zacharaki described the issue of teacher shortages as a ‘structural issue’ and emphasized the government's commitment to faster vacancy coverage and improved school environments. To encourage placements in remote areas, the government is considering incentives such as double credit scoring and rent reimbursement.