Adult beneficiaries are entitled to access the education system and training programmes under the same
conditions as legally residing third-country nationals.1470
During the 2024-2025 school year, a total of 17,195 pupils with refugee or asylum seeking
backgroundwere enrolled in education,1471 to a near identical degree in primary (50.7%) and secondary
education (49.3%). Of those, a total of 15,538 children were reported as actively attending school, 1472
highlighting a potential drop-out rate of roughly 10%, which was slightly more pronounced at the primary
level (87% of those enrolled reported as active, as oppoσed to 93% for secondary education).
Of the total children enrolled to both primary and secondary education (17,195), 57.7% were boys (9,914)
and 42.3% were girls (7,281), with dropout rates being reported at similar levels in both cases (roughly
10%, albeit slightly more accentuated for boys).1473
Overall, children from a total of 70 different nationalities were reported as enrolled to mainstream
education, with top nationalities being Egypt (19%), Ukraine (13%) and India (13%), followed by Syria
(11%), Afghanistan (10%), Pakistan (8%) and Iraq (6%).1474
Of the total children enrolled to education (17,915), 66.6% were enrolled to schools with morning reception
classes (τάξεις υποδοχής), and 12.9% in afternoon Reception Facilities for the Education of Refugees
(Δομές Υποδοχής για την Εκπαίδευση των Προσφύγων / ΔΥΕΠ).1475
During the 2024-2025 school year, a total of 120 Refugee Education Coordinators were appointed by the
Ministry of Education throughout Greece, and 1,405 teachers were appointed for the education of children
with a refugee background enrolled in Reception Facilities for the Education of Refugees.1476
Migrant Integration Centres
Migrant Integration Centres (M.I.C.), which were established by Law 4368/2016 (ΦΕΚ 21 Α’, 2016) and
function as branches of Community Centers in municipalities, provide, inter alia, language learning and
training (Lessons in Greek language, history, and culture which are offered to adults who are either
migrants or beneficiaries of international protection. Intercultural activities which facilitate the co-existence
between third-country children/young people and native children/ young people. Activities that facilitate
third-country nationals' access to the job market).
In Greece, there are eleven Migration Centers in: Athens, Piraeus, Kallithea, Thessaloniki, KordelioEvosmos, Thebes, Lamia, Andravida-Kyllini, Heraklion-Crete, Lesvos and Trikala.1477
However, the demand for their services is exceeding their capacity. Suffice to mention that for Athens,
where a large part of the refugee population is concentrated, there is only one Migrant Integration Center,
which by its nature serves not only beneficiaries of international protection but all third-country nationals.
1470
1471
1472
1473
1474
1475
1476
1477
Article 27(2) Asylum Code.
Separate statistics based on exact legal status (refugee status, subsidiary protection, asylum applicant) are
not kept. As noted by the Independent Department for the Coordination and Monitoring of Refugee Education
of the Ministry of Education, in reply to GCR’s request for information “this is on account of the fact that
enrollment of minor students from third countries or stateless minors in public schools is a right of the children
and an obligation of the State, regardless of whether their residence status in the country has been
regularised”. Information received on 18 January 2026.
Specifically, 7,619 out of a total of 8,716 children enrolled in primary education and 7,919 out of a total of
8,479 children enrolled in secondary education. Information received from the the Independent Department
for the Coordination and Monitoring of Refugee Education of the Ministry of Education on 18 January 2026.
Specifically, 8,928 out of 9,914 boys reported as actively attending school (90%), and 6,610 out of 7,281 girls
reported as actively attending school (90.8%). Information received from the the Independent Department for
the Coordination and Monitoring of Refugee Education of the Ministry of Education on 18 January 2026.
Information received from the Independent Department for the Coordination and Monitoring of Refugee
Education of the Ministry of Education on 18 January 2026.
Ibid.
Information received from the the Independent Department for the Coordination and Monitoring of Refugee
Education of the Ministry of Education on 18 January 2026.
Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Migrant Integration Centers, available at: https://bit.ly/4dhsrDC.
286