Numerical data highlighting that demographics directly affects education and education policy was presented by Sofia Zacharaki, at the “Demographics 2026” conference.
During the discussion, the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports noted that the enrolment in first grade for 2026 was 70,000, while in 2016 the corresponding figure was 100,000. “Our goal is to be able to better forecast our needs so that we can start the year more smoothly,” he said, noting that the ministry should, by studying the demographics and demographic trends, ensure not only the timely staffing of schools, but also the operation of schools in inaccessible places, on islands, in villages or even in the centre of Athens.
“The demographic and the education are now inextricably linked, as the country’s population evolution directly influences the design of the school of the future,” he argued.
The minister stressed that substantial interventions are needed to upgrade the quality of education, including staffing schools with teachers, improving infrastructure, the Digital Tutoring Centre, new curricula and teacher training. In the same context, she ementioned the National Dialogue that will result in a new design for the high school and the skills and knowledge it will provide for children.
Mrs. Zacharaki noted that the Public-Private Sector Partnership is very important for the achievement of the goals set by the state and made special reference to the Marietta Giannakou programme, through which some 2,500 renovated school units will be delivered by 2028 throughout the country.
Digital platform “Dipla”
In addition, he announced the activation of a special digital platform, called “Dipla”, through which there will be direct and detailed recording of the needs of public schools, enabling individuals, businesses and institutions to contribute in a targeted manner to the improvement of infrastructure.
“The state should never stop supporting the public subsidy for teachers, for books, so that it can make a safer and thus brighter environment for children and parents and teachers,” he said, adding that private initiative to help the state is a “very important piece of a puzzle that means: A state that cares for its citizen, wherever he/she lives.”
Finally, the Minister of Education spoke about the children’s mental health support network, noting that there is already a platform for reporting incidents of bullying and there has been an increase in the number of social workers and psychologists in schools, As she pointed out on the issues of domestic violence and mental health, “the big changes start from Primary Education” in terms of knowledge, attitudes and social skills.
