e talked to Katarina, the president of the Serbian Association in Greece “Beli Krin,” and a mother of school-age children, about what schooling in Greece actually looks like, its advantages and disadvantages, and how it compares to Serbia.

Let’s start with what parents usually first inquire about – books. Are textbooks paid for elementary school students in Greece?

Textbooks for elementary school students are not paid for in state schools, while in private schools they are purchased at a cost of around 30€ per book package, with the addition that private schools use their own literature as well.

Do children carry many books to school?

Yes, children do carry a lot of books to school, and in some schools, they have the option to leave books they don’t need at home during the week at school.

How is teaching organized? Do they have all-day care, how many hours per day do they have, and what does a school day look like?

Teaching is always in the morning, there are no shifts, and classes start around 08:30. What is very interesting is that most schools still maintain the tradition of holding a prayer before the start of classes, where all students recite the “Our Father” together. In Greek schools, religious education is not an elective subject but part of the mandatory curriculum. There is all-day care, mainly for doing homework from that day, which lasts until 4pm. The number of hours varies from school to school, with mandatory classes usually ending at 1pm. The compulsory subjects include Greek, Mathematics, English from a few years ago starting from state kindergartens onwards, Science and Society, Religious Education, Music, Art, and Physical Education, while in later grades, History is taught from the third grade, Physics from the fifth grade, and Geography from the sixth grade. It’s interesting that elementary school lasts for six years, then all children go to high school for three years, followed by lyceum which lasts for three years.

Do they attend school in shifts and how many children are in a class?

There are no shifts, all classes are in the morning. The number of children per class varies from place to place. While in villages they used to even merge classes until recently, in cities classes can have up to 25 students.

Do parents of elementary school students have any significant expenses during the school year?

In state schools, expenses are limited to buying notebooks and school supplies, which depends on the wishes and needs of the students. However, I must emphasize that in Greece, the use of simple, basic stationery is still valued. At the beginning of the year, parents receive a list of required materials for that year. You can equip a child with a budget of 50€, but it can reach high amounts if the interests of the children and parents are significant.

In Serbia, there is often talk about private schools. What is the situation in Greece?

Private schools are also a common occurrence in Greece. In contrast to Serbia, they are not a place for educating the elite population, but a choice to invest in children’s education, especially in recent years when the public education system in Greece has deteriorated significantly, due to the economic crisis, but also due to the influx of migrants who are integrated into education through a very questionable system. As someone who gained exceptional knowledge in Serbia through the public education system, I never thought I would ever feel the need to enroll my children in private school, but it was a necessary choice that corresponds to the need not to wait for an appointment at a public hospital, but if possible, to choose to pay for a private examination.

Who usually enrolls children in private schools and why?

Among my children’s friends, there are children from middle to upper-class families. A large number of parents, like me, have decided to invest money in their children’s education, which does not guarantee them a secure future, but makes their present more secure in an organized system where basic rules are respected, discipline is nurtured, and values and skills are acquired which will be necessary for meeting the demands of the modern age in their future lives.

Do children attend private lessons and how common is that?

One of the main reasons why I chose a private school for my children is precisely because their program from a young age includes additional classes such as English and a second foreign language, computer science, theater workshops, and various programs that encourage students’ self-discovery and adaptation to society. In state schools, there is an “unofficial” rule that private supplementary lessons, or “frontistirio,” are mandatory for children to acquire knowledge that is legally required for their age. This means that parents pay monthly sums of 200€ in lower grades for additional classes, and this amount reaches up to 1000€ in preparations for college enrollment. A very small number of children succeed in achieving the prescribed level of knowledge on their own, which clearly indicates how serious the problem of the Greek educational system is and that it requires a serious reform.

Do children have one teacher or more during elementary school?

In some schools, one teacher guides the children throughout their elementary schooling, that is, all six years, and then in high school, they have subject teachers. It is common, as in my children’s school, for them to have a new teacher in each grade.

How much time do children spend in school per day?

Regular classes last until 1:15 pm, and my children have mandatory classes until 2:15 pm due to additional lessons and activities. After that, they stay in the extended day care where, on some days, they have additional sports activities, while on other days, they complete their school tasks.

Which subjects do they have in the first grade?

In the first grade, children have Greek, Mathematics, Science and Society, English which has become mandatory in recent years, and additional subjects for skill development such as Music, Art, Physical Education, computer science, and theater expression.

How is catering handled in schools? Do children receive food or bring it from home?

Children bring food from home, which was particularly challenging in kindergarten. The system in Serbia with served meals and snacks is much better and makes everyday life easier for parents. In primary school, children can already buy snacks at the school.

Is there organized catering in private schools?

In private schools, there is catering available, offering full meals with cooked dishes, salads, and fruits, but if you have picky children like in my case, it is an expensive and inefficient choice.

If they bring food from home, are there any rules?

Everyone can bring whatever they want, but there are guidelines on healthy eating. It is quite challenging to prepare a meal that will have the same structure when it cools down and when children “shake” it in their school bags.

How often do they go on trips and excursions?

Depending on the location of the school in Greece, there are various trips for younger grades and day trips for elementary school, while in the older grades, they go on trips lasting two to four days. These trips are usually to nearby destinations, and I was especially surprised by the fact that in the lower grades, mothers go on trips with the children. When I tell parents in Greece that children in Serbia go on seven-day school trips with the teacher without parents, it is an absolute shock to them, and for me, one of the strongest examples of the difference in children’s independence, as well as parents’.

How do excursions work and do they represent a significant cost for families?

In our school, parents do not go on trips and excursions with the children, so we receive offers that are mostly the result of cooperation between the school and a travel agency. All children usually go on trips, while some children avoid excursions, either due to prices or due to parents’ uncertainty in letting them go alone. In our case, trips to Thessaloniki mostly involve just the ticket price for museums or theaters, while going to a neighboring town with transportation can cost up to 30€. Excursions have high standards and prices. I recently received a proposal for my older son who is in sixth grade for a trip to Nafplio and Athens at a cost of 670€, which is a significant amount to spend.

After all these years, what do you like most about the Greek school system?

As I ultimately chose private schooling for my children, it is clear that there are very few things I truly like about their school system. Unfortunately, like many state institutions in Greece, schools have remained focused on theory and lack practical application. In my children’s school, I highly value the respect for tradition, discipline, and the effort to teach children the right values that shape them into individuals needed in this world.

And what do you like least?

The main reason I enrolled my children in a private school was the noticeable lack of control in the education system. All reforms are only implemented on paper, while the situation, especially in smaller towns, is left to the parents’ resourcefulness and the dedication of teachers.

What surprised you the most when your child started school in Greece?

As my older son first started regular state kindergarten at the school, my surprise was the large number of foreign children whose parents live and work in Greece joining the educational system without any knowledge of the Greek language, which leads to setbacks for entire classes, both children and their parents, especially in the older grades. I would also note that I was surprised by the amount of time I spend helping children with their school obligations, which is assumed in Greece because the entire system relies on the mother and her abilities, while in areas where she is unable to respond, the responsibility is transferred to private teachers and supplementary education institutions.

We would like to thank our interlocutor Katarina Koxelia, who also runs the association of Serbs in Greece “Beli Krin”, for her detailed description of schooling in Greece.

Explore the complete process of buying property in Greece through our detailed guides:

• Buying Property in Greece – a clear, step-by-step introduction to the entire process, including taxes, costs and ownership obligations.
• Buying an Apartment or House by the Sea in Greece – Real Experiences – real buyer stories, practical examples and advice based on first-hand experience.
• Work Permits and Property Purchase in Greece – an overview of residence and work permit options and how they connect to property ownership.
• Buying Real Estate Near Thessaloniki - Tips and Recommendations - a practical guide to the most attractive areas around Thessaloniki
• Greek Golden Visa – a complete guide to the investment requirements, application process and benefits of the Golden Visa program.
• Working from Greece: A Guide for Digital Nomads – a detailed overview of residence and visa options for digital nomads who want to live and work in Greece.

Planning a vacation in Greece?

On the Nikana.gr website you can find detailed guides, useful information and a wide selection of accommodations for Halkidiki and the rest of Greece. The Nikana eSIM card is also available for internet in Greece.

Follow us on social media where we regularly share exclusive offers, discounts, and special holiday packages for vacations in Greece as well as information, tips, and useful news.

• Facebook: Nikana.gr
• Instagram: @nikana.gr
• Tiktok: nikana.gr
• Facebook group: Live from Greece
• YouTube channel: @NikanaTravel
• Email us at: nikana@nikana.gr
• Visit our website nikana.gr, the leading source of information about Greece.