Alpha News

Social Workers to Pilot in Schools, Education Reform Prioritized

Published January 26, 2026, 14:22

The Minister of Education, Athena Michaelidou, emphasized the need for education reform, focusing on skills development and moving away from rote learning. As part of this, the pilot operation of Social Work Services in some schools will begin in 2026. The Minister stated that the priorities of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth for 2026 include the completion of the list of appointable teachers, the reform of Special Education towards a more inclusive model, and the strengthening of students' skills. Regarding Special Education, a bill with amendments leading to unified and inclusive education is expected to be submitted. At the same time, emphasis will be placed on the mental resilience of both students and teachers, with the creation of teams of teachers responsible for the prevention and management of violence and delinquency in schools. In addition, the Ministry has proceeded with the collection of protocols and recommendations for dealing with delinquency, which will be distributed to schools. The budget of the Social Insurance Fund for 2026 provides for an increase in revenues and expenditures, with an estimated surplus of €1.03 billion.