Filenews 8 November 2025
The budget of the Ministry of Education for 2026 is increased by 4% and €62 million compared to last year, reaching €1.611 billion. The lion's share concerns regular expenses and of these, the payroll of the staff, with the competent Minister pointing out that a large investment is made in human resources, as it implements actions and policies to achieve the goals. Specifically, 80% (€1.285 billion) of the budget concerns regular expenses (salaries, sponsorships, etc.) and 84% of regular expenses concern the payroll of the Ministry of Education (reaches €1.08 billion). 20% (€31 million) of the budget concerns development expenses, which for 2026 appear to have increased by 11%.
The above was presented yesterday by the Minister of Education, Athena Michailidou, to the parliamentary committee on Finance, in the context of the discussion of the budget of the Ministry of Education for 2026, focusing on the various policies that are being promoted.
Among other things, it was mentioned that €15,846 million are estimated for Optional All-Day School, €3,076 million for anti-violence and delinquency policies, €4,550 million for Pre-Primary Education, €21,582 million for Special Education, €35 million for school infrastructure, €8,423 million for digital transition. and for sponsorships of public universities €258 million.
In its flagship actions for 2025 – 2026, the Ministry of Education has included: a) The shift to skills with the Curricula, Technical Education and new issues, b) the admission to the Education System with the topics of the list of appointees, which are expected to "run" soon, as 2027 when the list is abolished is approaching, c) the social worker in schools with its pilot application in school units with a high degree of delinquency, d) Special Education with the amendment of the legislation that is attempted 25 years later and e) the Safe School.
In educational policies for students, the Ministry estimates €1.078 billion. and records the following:
> Addressing skills mismatch.
> Upgrading and improving the institution of All-Day School.
> Evaluation and improvement of Special Education.
> Implementation of programs (immigrant biography, violence and delinquency, addictions, etc.).
> Expansion of the intervention Financial Literacy and Literacy Program
> Implementation of a policy for gifted children.
> Restoration of the institution of a working week in the second grade of Lyceum.
> Feeding vulnerable groups of the student population.
> Program "School and Social Inclusion Actions+".
> Expansion of Pre-Primary Education – Tuition Grant.
> Participation in International Surveys.
> National Strategy for Sustainable Development.
> Environmental program "Greening my school".
> Smooth transition from Primary to High School.
> Upgrading of Student Councils.
> Sponsorships for children talented in the arts.
> Implementation of a Technical Gymnasium.
For human resources, an amount of €6.4 million is estimated. and the following are recorded:
> Evaluation of teachers and educational work.
> Appointment system in education.
> Professional learning of teachers.
> Publications of educational/support materials.
> Establishment of contracts for the Ministry's support programs.
> Implementation of all the policies of the Ministry of Education.
Air conditioners by the end of 2026
In the context of the questions that Ms. Michailidou received from the MPs, reference was also made to air conditioners in schools. Saying that it is "unthinkable today that there are no air conditioners in schools", the Minister said that the goal is for all schools that need air conditioners to have them by the end of 2026. The Minister explained that due to the temperatures in some areas, not all schools need air conditioners immediately, while she also thanked parents' associations, thanks to whom air conditioners were installed in schools on their own initiative and at their own cost. Regarding the installation of air conditioners in schools, she noted that it is not only a decision to install them but a lot of preparation was needed behind this process, such as upgrading infrastructure and electrical studies.
