GREECE
LEGAL AND POLICY CONTEXT
Under national law, refugee and migrant children are entitled to access the education system under similar conditions as Greek nationals. In addition, under national law, children from countries outside the EU can enrol in Greek schools, even with incomplete documentation 1. Ensuring that the right of children to education is met has presented a big challenge for the Greek government. The Greek state continues to struggle to accommodate the numbers of refugees arriving; it is estimated that children account for more than a third of the overall number of migrants and refugees arriving in Greece in recent years.
In an effort to secure access to education for refugee and migrant children, the Greek government developed a programme according to the specific needs of these children and the conditions of their stay. A ministerial decision adapting the compulsory education system for children aged five to 15 years old was issued with the aim of facilitating the integration of a large number of foreign children and to try to prevent some schools from being burdened with excessive numbers. The programme offers( a) enrolment in state schools( for children living outside refugee accommodation centres and facilities) and( b) access to education in Reception Facilities for Refugee Education( RFRE) in other cases. Between October 2016 and March 2017, 107 RFREs were set up with some 2,643 children attending them 2.
To facilitate access to state schools, afternoon preparatory classes for refugee and migrant children have been set up. Preschool education is only provided inside reception and accommodation centres.
Children living in private housing in urban areas can enrol at local schools. Reception classes for children with limited knowledge of the Greek language may be available in areas characterised as priority education zones.
Despite such efforts, children often face delays and obstacles in their enrolment in public schools due to a lack of reception classes, limited capacity of schools or administrative issues. The main shortcomings of the current education policy include access to non-compulsory education, as it does not provide for pre-school education, upper secondary education and vocational training. The high mobility and fluidity of the asylum-seeking population as well as staffing issues pose additional challenges in securing the right to education. Additional challenges exist for children in certain geographical areas, such as the Eastern Aegean islands, which are considered transit zones 3.
Access to early childhood and preschool education facilities is a challenge for citizens and non-citizens alike due to the limited capacity of public day care centres and kindergartens run by local authorities.
1 _ Law No. 3386 / 2005, article 72. See also: Kalliopi Spanou,“ Non-Enrollment and Promotion in the Next Class of Foreign Students Due to Deficiencies in the Registration Documents”, Greek Ombudsman, December 2013, www. synigoros. gr / resources / 462193. pdf.
2 _“ Refugee Education Project”, Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs, Scientific Committee in Support of Refugee Children, April 2017, 38, https:// www. minedu. gov. gr / publications / docs2017 / CENG _ Epistimoniki _ Epitropi _ Prosfygon _ YPPETH _ Apotimisi _ Protaseis _ 2016 _ 2017 _ 070 __. pdf.
3 _“ Migration Flows and Refugee Protection: Administrative Challenges and Human Rights Issues”, Greek Ombudsman, April 2017, 63 & 67, https:// www. synigoros. gr / resources / docs / greek _ ombudsman _ migrants _ refugees _ 2017 _ en. pdf.
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