Gaps in mathematics and reading remain a central challenge for Greece’s education system, even as reforms gain momentum, according to a new education review by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The report shows that student performance varies significantly, with socioeconomic background and regional disparities continuing to shape learning outcomes.
Using the latest available international data from the 2022 PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) assessments, the OECD identified persistent weaknesses in core literacy and numeracy skills. These gaps limit overall system performance and highlight the need for more consistent implementation of reforms nationwide.
OECD highlights inequality in Greece’s education system
The OECD review highlights ongoing social and geographic inequalities that continue to influence educational achievement in Greece. While the country’s centralized governance model helps maintain national standards, it can also limit schools’ ability to adapt reforms to local conditions.
As a result, education policies deliver uneven results across regions. The report also notes that, despite increased investment in digital infrastructure, teachers still make limited use of digital tools in everyday classroom practice.
Reform progress despite past economic constraints
Despite these challenges, the OECD acknowledges that Greece has made meaningful progress in modernizing its education system in recent years even after a prolonged period of economic pressure.
Key reforms include the introduction of internal and external evaluations of schools, efforts to strengthen the teaching profession through expanded responsibilities and leadership roles, and continued investment in digital transformation.
The review also highlights curriculum updates that emphasize critical thinking and problem-solving, the expansion of compulsory early childhood education from the age of four, early foreign language learning, and the introduction of skills-based programs designed to strengthen interdisciplinary learning.
OECD recommendations for next phase of education in Greece
Looking ahead, the OECD recommends gradually expanding school autonomy while maintaining strong national safeguards to ensure equity and cohesion across the education system. The organization stresses that stronger implementation capacity at the local and regional level will prove critical to turning reforms into measurable improvements in classrooms.
The report also calls for clearer governance roles, coherent frameworks that link teacher evaluation with professional development and career progression, improved access to high-quality early childhood education, especially for children under four and systematic monitoring of digital education initiatives.
New education data expected in 2025 and 2026
The review aligns with Greece’s national education strategy for 2025–2027, which focuses on strengthening quality, equity, and innovation across the system.
Authorities have not yet released results from the most recent PISA assessments, conducted in spring 2025. That cycle evaluates fifteen-year-old students in mathematics, reading, and science, while also introducing new domains such as English proficiency and digital learning across more than eighty countries.
Further insight is expected in 2026, when Greece participates in the OECD’s international TALIS survey, which examines teaching practices, school leadership, and professional development, offering a more comprehensive picture of the Greek education system.
