Greek school excursion and activity regulations

The Greek Ministry of Education has issued new guidelines for organizing school excursions and educational activities for primary and secondary students. Incorporating recommendations from the National Transparency Authority, the ministerial decision aims to enhance safety and administrative transparency by clarifying requirements for documentation, insurance, and coordination with travel agencies.

Under this framework, documentation regarding fire safety and operating licenses is required for activities in private venues, though public spaces remain exempt. Schools are also permitted to organize a second educational activity in a single month if a decision is documented by the Teachers’ Association.

While Ministry officials, such as Director of Secondary Education Studies Andreas Nigiannis, maintain that the framework brings order to a previously chaotic field and serves as an “essential safety safeguard,” educational unions have voiced significant opposition. Federations including the Teachers' Federation of Greece (DOE) and the Federation of Secondary Education Employees (OLME) argue that the measures increase bureaucratic burdens and shift disproportionate responsibility onto teachers regarding student safety, transport, and venue compliance. Nigiannis has noted that the framework may be subject to improvement based on feedback from the educational community during implementation.