The establishment of eight new special schools for pupils with disabilities and/or special educational needs from the coming school year has been announced by the Ministry of Education.

Specifically, the following School Units for Special Education and Education (SSEAE) are being established in primary and secondary education:

• • – SPECIAL MUNICIPAL SCHOOL OF NESTOS IN KAVALAS DIPE
  • – SPECIAL MUNICIPAL SCHOOL OF CHALANDRIOU DIPPE B ATHENS
  • – 1st SPECIAL SCHOOL OF ALIMOS DPE D ATHENS
  • – 1st SPECIAL MUNICIPAL SCHOOL OF ALIMU DIGITAL ATHENS
  • – SPECIAL SCHOOL OF ALMYRU DIPPE OF MAGNESIA
  • – SPECIAL PRIMARY SCHOOL OF MONOLOFU DIPPE OF WEST THESSALONICS
  • – UNIVERSITY SPECIAL VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL (EN.E.E.Y.-L.) KARPENISIOU – DIDE EYRYTANIA:

– ENIAMOUS SPECIAL VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL (EN.E.E.Y.-L.) KARPENISIOU – DIDE EYRYTANIA:

• – ENIAL SPECIAL VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL (EN.E.E.Y.-L.) KOS – DIVISION OF DODEKANISOU:

At the same time, the Ministry of Education is establishing two additional sectors and six specialties in the Unified Special Vocational High Schools – Lyceums (ENEEΓYL).

• The two new sectors being established are:
• – SECTION “AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT” at EN.E.E.Y.-L. ANATOLIKI MANIS
• – “AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT” SECTION in the EN.E.E.Y.-L. AMPHISSA

• The six new specialties at ENEGYL:
• – SPECIALITY “TECHNICIAN OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS” of the “INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY” SECTOR at EN.E.E.Y.-L. OROPOU
• – SPECIALITY ‘STORAGE AND SUPPLY SYSTEMS OFFICER’ in the ‘MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS’ SECTOR at EN.E.E.Y.Y.-L. KASTRORIA
• – SPECIALITY ‘INFORMATION TECHNICIAN’ of the ‘INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY’ SECTOR at EN.E.E.Y.-L. ARTA
• – SPECIALITY ‘FOOD AND BEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY TECHNICIAN’ of the ‘AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT’ SECTOR in the EN.E.E.Y.-L. NEAS IONIA MAGNESIA
• – SPECIALITY ‘ANTHOLOGIST AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE TECHNICIAN’ of the SECTION ‘AGRICULTURE’ at EN.E.E.Y.-L. KILKIS
• – SPECIALITY ‘STORAGE AND SUPPLY SYSTEMS OFFICER’ of the ‘MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMY’ SECTOR at EN.E.E.Y.G.-L. CHANIOS

As recalled in the announcement of the Ministry of Education “special schools offer a specialized environment and staff (special education teachers, psychologists, social workers, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, school nurses and special support staff) with the appropriate training to meet the specific needs of students with disabilities and/or special educational needs. The provision of quality education to students with disabilities and/or special educational needs is an obligation of the State and therefore a priority of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports.”

This purpose is also served by the establishment of 3,448 Inclusion Departments in all 13 regions of the country, covering every level, from Kindergarten through to EPALs. With particular emphasis on Secondary Education, which is being massively strengthened to cure the long-standing shortages of special structures within high schools.
Meanwhile, a programme is being planned to transport students attending special schools in the country by Electric School Buses.

In a statement, Education Minister, Sofia Zacharaki, Sofia Zacharaki said: “We are reaffirming in practice our commitment to an inclusive school, with no ‘lost paths’ and no barriers to access to knowledge. We place particular emphasis on the creation of permanent positions for special education teachers, thus ensuring the stability and quality of the relationship between the child and the teacher. A few days ago, in a bill that became state law, we established 1,200 new full-time positions for psychologists and social workers to provide support in 3,000 schools and an additional 700 full-time positions for teachers in KEDASY. We are taking many meaningful steps towards a school that excludes no one and provides more support for those in need. I am confident that families and teachers recognize our persistent efforts.”