Onassis Foundation and Greece Partner to Launch 22 New Public Schools

A groundbreaking partnership between the Greek Ministry of Education and the Onassis Foundation will establish 22 “Onassis Public Schools,” aiming to revolutionize public education in disadvantaged communities across Greece.

The agreement, signed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at Maximos Mansion on Monday, will give over 6,000 secondary school students access to what officials call “the public school of the future.”

“The Onassis Public Schools will provide vital support to a public education system that faces challenges,” Prime Minister Mitsotakis stated. “Our aim is not only to create opportunities for gifted children but also to generate valuable lessons for the future of public education.”

This initiative directly addresses the overwhelming demand for high-quality public education in Greece. In 2024, existing experimental and model school applications significantly outstripped available places, with over 20,300 applications received for just 4,800 spots.

These new schools, located in vulnerable areas—including ten in Attica and twelve in Thessaloniki and other regions—will offer an innovative curriculum and state-of-the-art facilities to meet the specific educational needs of communities facing economic and social hardship.

“At the Onassis Foundation, we believe the best way to honour the past is to act in the present and contribute to the future,” said Anthony S. Papadimitriou, president of the Onassis Foundation. “We are not replacing the state but acting as supporters, fulfilling our civic duty.”

The Onassis Public Schools will remain part of the public system, with teachers remaining civil servants paid by the state. Student admission will be merit-based, determined by a knowledge and skills test administered before junior and senior high school entry.

The schools will operate under a model inspired by the successful Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, a cornerstone of Greece’s public health system since 1993. The Onassis Foundation will fund the renovation of school buildings and provide ongoing operational support.

The foundation will also fund extracurricular programs focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), humanities, arts, and digital technologies, teacher training, and annual operational expenses beyond the core curriculum.

While the Ministry of Education will maintain overall governance, an independent nine-member management committee will provide oversight to ensure high standards and efficient operation.

The first six Onassis Public Schools—three junior high schools and three senior high schools—are slated to open in the 2025-26 academic year, with plans to expand to 12 or more schools in the following years.