The new school year begins in Greece on Thursday, September 11

Αthens, Greece.-The start of the new school year next Thursday, September 11, will usher in a number of changes. They include thousands of new, permanent teachers, a new structure to the curriculum, literary books, the launch of the Public Onassis Schools and vegetable plots in school playgrounds.
The aim is to conclude the hiring of thousands of permanent and supply teachers before the official start of classes, so that there is the highest possible level of readiness. The ministry has also created new positions for 600 psychologists and 600 social workers serving 3,000 schools, to provide psychosocial support and counselling to families, children and the school community.
The new curriculum is designed to give teachers greater freedom so that they can proceed based on the needs of individual students and groups, with core skills that are considered mandatory, fundamental knowledge for every student and additional, optional goals that teachers can select based on the interests, level and needs of each class. Classes will this year gradually also usher in the concept of multiple text books, which will be fully implemented in the next academic year.
The growing of vegetable plots will be introduced as a class in selected kindergartens and primary schools this year, as part of a programme designed to cultivate cooperation and critical thinking while combining sustainable growth with educational actions.
This year also marks the second “season” for the Digital Tutoring programme, which the education ministry considered very successful and intends to continue. Last year, more than 3,500 thousand hours of live online lessons were given, including with the option of sub-titles and sign language.