Hundreds of Schools and Kindergartens to Close in Greece Due to Insufficient Student Numbers
As the new school year begins, Greece is facing a significant demographic challenge with over 700 educational institutions shutting their doors because of declining enrollment.
Greece is starting the new academic year with a widespread closure of schools and kindergartens, highlighting the country’s deepening demographic crisis. According to official data, 721 schools and kindergartens are being shut down across the nation because of insufficient student numbers. While rural and island regions are the most affected, closures are also taking place in urban areas, including Athens, where 73 kindergartens and four schools are not opening this year.
Greek Ministry of Education regulations require a minimum of 15 students per institution; if this threshold is not met, schools are temporarily closed for three years. If enrollment does not increase during this period, these closures become permanent. Over the past seven years, Greece’s total student population has dropped by more than 150,000, a sharp decline that is raising concerns among officials and families alike.
Authorities say the declining birth rate and ongoing demographic shifts are driving these closures, with many schools unable to meet the minimum requirements set out by law. Ministry representatives stress that the number of institutions facing closure has been rising each year, underscoring the urgent need to address Greece’s demographic challenges to protect the future of its education system.
