The approval of 152 out of 173 submitted textbooks has marked a significant milestone for Greece’s upcoming education reform. These books received the green light from IEP and the Ministry of Education after completing a thorough evaluation process. Teachers will soon gain access to them in digital form before selecting which will be printed for students in the 2027 28 school year.
Educators will be able to choose between 2 and 5 options for the same subject in 50 percent of Primary School and Gymnasium subjects. Additional flexibility will be offered in A Lyceum, where 70 percent of subjects will feature multiple textbook choices. This system is set to debut in the 2027 28 academic year alongside the new national curriculum.
The first cycle of approvals represents the completion of the initial phase of the Multiple Textbook initiative. Ongoing evaluations continue for 91 more books for the same grade levels, while a third review round has already begun for Grade B and C Lyceum materials. This multi stage process aligns with the national effort to modernize educational resources.
Teams of specialized scientists and technical experts conducted the evaluations, assessing both the scientific accuracy and pedagogical suitability of each submission. Their review also ensured compatibility with modern curricula and digital learning technologies. Hundreds of digital learning components embedded within the new books were tested for use with interactive systems now installed in schools.
Digital access to the approved textbooks will soon be offered to teachers, allowing them to study and compare options ahead of their final selections by March 2026. These printed books will reach students in the 2027 28 school year, which will also mark the first nationwide rollout of the new curriculum and Multiple Textbook framework. Kindergarten has already adopted the system since 2023 24.
IEP sources emphasized that the ability to choose textbooks strengthens the professional role of educators by giving them materials tailored to their classroom needs. They also noted that all approved teaching packages will remain available digitally, ensuring continuous access to reliable educational resources and shifting focus toward learning outcomes rather than uniform content.
A large scale teacher training program is currently underway to support the transition to the revised curriculum and the expanded use of digital tools. Available data confirms that teachers will have multiple book choices for many subjects, while new calls for submissions will be issued where proposals were missing or insufficient.
The completion of the first evaluation cycle is considered a pivotal moment for the broader education reform. Officials describe it as a major step toward aligning Greek schooling practices with European and international standards through flexible, modern educational materials.
The initiative relies on a complex collaboration between the Ministry of Education, IEP, and ITYE Diophantos, with around 1,400 evaluators participating in the process. IEP oversees the scientific and pedagogical aspects under ESFA funding, while ITYE Diophantos manages printing, distribution, and digital hosting of the approved books.
Approximately 1,100 authors contributed to the textbook development, alongside 22 legal and physical entities involved in the effort. The process began with an announcement in April 2023, continued with submissions in September 2024, and concluded initial evaluations in July 2025.
The final list of approved textbooks is expected to be officially published once the related Ministerial Decision is issued.
