# Greece and Cyprus 2026-2027 school year preparations > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/cyprus-and-greece-2026-2027-school-year-preparations > Updated: 2026-09-11T12:58:30.000Z. Sources: 45. Developments: 7. As preparations for the 2026-2027 academic year continue, Greece and Cyprus are implementing various administrative and structural reforms. In Greece, Minister of Education Sofia Zacharaki has announced the recruitment of approximately 30,000 substitute teachers, with 6,000 more expected by late September. The Ministry is also launching ‘EduPlan’, a digital tool for five-year educational forecasting, and the ‘Vision for the New School’ initiative to explore artificial intelligence and a new National Baccalaureate. A central component of these reforms is the National Dialogue concerning the ‘New Lyceum’ and ‘National Diploma’. Minister Zacharaki announced that the Dialogue Committee’s Interim Report will be submitted for consultation with political parties and educational bodies. This reform aims to shift secondary education toward 21st-century skills and critical thinking. The proposed National Diploma could replace current minimum entry requirements by evaluating a student’s entire academic journey through a digital student folder. To facilitate this, a digital platform is expected to be operational by the end of September for public feedback. Further academic restructuring involves changes to the 2027 Panhellenic Examinations and the reclassification of Schools, Departments, and Admission Directions, including the integration of Military Schools into specific scientific fields. As the new school year begins, political leaders such as PASOK President Nikos Androulakis have called for cross-party cooperation to strengthen public education as a means to combat demographic challenges. Additionally, regional education officials have emphasized the importance of special education and physical health in creating supportive learning environments. ## Claims - The 2026-2027 school year will focus on new educational policies and innovations. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Secondary education classes are scheduled to begin on Monday, September 7, 2026. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Primary education classes are scheduled to begin on Monday, September 14, 2026. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Secondary education teachers will assume their duties on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Primary education teachers will assume their duties on Monday, September 7, 2026. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The Ministry has prepared a building program involving construction, extensions, and improvements. (corroborated by 3 sources) - School staffing is being managed in cooperation with the Educational Service Commission. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Minor delays from publishing houses regarding textbooks are not expected to disrupt the start of the year. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-11: Greek leaders call for stronger public education as school year begins Greek leaders emphasize strengthening public education and supporting families during school year opening ceremonies in Thessaloniki and Achaia to address demographic and educational needs. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/greek-leaders-call-for-stronger-public-education-as-school-year-begins ### 2026-09-02: Greece launches National Dialogue on New Lyceum and National Diploma reforms Greece's Ministry of Education has initiated a national dialogue on reforming the Lyceum system and introducing a National Diploma to modernize secondary education and university entrance processes. 20 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/athinagoreio-experimental-school-of-corfu-opens-12-student-vacancies ### 2026-08-31: Greece faces educational challenges as new school year begins As the Greek school year begins, discussions focus on addressing school vandalism in Ioannina and the role of educators in supporting students through economic and technological shifts. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/greece-faces-educational-challenges-as-new-school-year-begins ### 2026-08-31: Greece announces academic reforms and faces teacher protests Greece introduces major academic restructuring for 2027, affecting military and university admissions, while educators protest new, bureaucratic regulations regarding school excursions. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/greece-announces-academic-reforms-and-faces-teacher-protests ### 2026-08-31: Greece and Cyprus implement educational reforms for the 2026-2027 school year Greece and Cyprus are preparing for the 2026-2027 school year with major teacher recruitments, new digital planning tools, and the launch of teacher evaluation reforms. 14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/athina-michailidou-announces-cyprus-education-reforms ### 2026-08-24: Greece and Cyprus prepare for 2026-2027 school year Greece and Cyprus prepare for the 2026-2027 school year, featuring significant school restructuring in Greece and new educational policies and facility improvements in Cyprus. 14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cyprus-prepares-for-2026-2027-school-year-with-new-policies ### 2026-08-10: School year 2026-2027 schedules announced for Cyprus and Greece Schedules for the 2026-2027 school year have been announced, outlining teacher return dates and the start of classes for primary and secondary students in Cyprus and Greece. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/school-schedules-and-health-programs-announced-for-new-academic-year --- Cite as: Greece and Cyprus 2026-2027 school year preparations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/cyprus-and-greece-2026-2027-school-year-preparations