The Public Onassis Schools in 10 questions and answers

The signing of the contract between the Greek State and the Onassis Foundation paves the way for establishing the Network of Public Onassis Schools. This network includes 22 schools (11 junior and 11 general senior high schools) located in areas facing social and economic challenges that will provide thousands of students with the resources, knowledge, and environment necessary to develop their skills.

The Public Onassis Schools will operate under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports, in close collaboration with the Onassis Foundation, which will upgrade their infrastructure and cover part of their operating costs. The curriculum will resemble that of Model Schools, incorporating innovations such as partnerships with universities and research centers and the operation of educational Groups and Clusters, which will also be accessible to students from nearby public schools.

The Public Onassis Schools aim to expand educational opportunities, strengthen local communities, foster collaboration between public schools, universities, and institutions, and set the tone for the overall upgrade in education, which is the goal of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports.

What are the Public Onassis Schools?

It is a network of existing schools that, through funding from the Onassis Foundation, will turn into Public Onassis Schools under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports. The network includes 22 secondary schools (11 junior and 11 senior high schools) across the country. At least six schools (three junior and three senior high schools) will be operational by September 2025, while efforts are underway to open up to 12 schools. The schools to be included in the initial implementation will be announced by the end of January 2025.

Students attending the second and third grades of junior or senior high school when the Public Onassis Schools begin operation will remain and complete their education there. The total annual student population of the Public Onassis Schools is expected to reach 6,000 per year, with over 22,000 students graduating within twelve years.

In which areas will the Public Onassis Schools operate?

Of the 22 schools, 10 (junior and senior high schools) will operate in the Region of Attica and 12 across the rest of Greece. In Attica, Public Onassis Schools will be established in Kolonos, Kypseli, Menidi, Perama, and Peristeri. In Thessaloniki, the selected areas include Xirokrini and Evosmos. Finally, regional Public Onassis Schools will be located in Kozani, Xanthi, Rhodes, and Heraklion.

The primary selection criterion was to prioritize regions facing social and economic challenges and having a population of more than 70,000 inhabitants. Further conditions included the absence of any other local model or experimental schools, as well as the geographic proximity of the selected junior and senior high schools to facilitate collaboration with one another, but also with universities and research centers. The final decision was reached after close cooperation between the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports and the Onassis Foundation.

How will the Public Onassis Schools be managed?

A nine-member Committee will manage the Public Onassis Schools Network. Five members will be appointed by the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports, while the Onassis Foundation will appoint the remaining four.

Daily operations will be overseen by: (i) the school’s principal, (ii) the school’s vice principal, and (iii) the teaching staff council. The school units will administratively fall under the respective Regional Directorate of Secondary Education.

What is the goal of the Public Onassis Schools?

• Implementing the principles and guidelines of the 21st-century modern school with an emphasis on humanities, STEM, and social sciences, fine arts, digital literacy, and emotional and social intelligence to cultivate well-rounded, democratic citizens.
• Providing high-quality free public education aimed at the comprehensive, well-rounded, and balanced development and culture of students.
• Promoting dialogue, free thought, equality, and respect for diversity in all its forms.
• Advancing scientific research in education and its practical applications through collaboration with educational and social organizations, in the teaching of individual subjects, in the psycho-pedagogical field, as well as in the organization, administration, evaluation, and management of relations at the level of the school unit.
• Training students in digital technology and artificial intelligence.
• Fostering creativity, innovation, and excellence both through the compulsory daily program and the extracurricular courses of the newly founded Groups and Clusters.
• Implementing innovative educational programs using experiential teaching methods and other cutting-edge practices and activities.
• Enabling digital, remote, and hybrid learning.
• Encouraging multilingualism.

How will the Public Onassis Schools operate?

The Public Onassis Schools will follow the curriculum of Model Schools, subject to possible modifications by the Management Committee. Attendance will be entirely free of charge. Public Onassis Schools will emphasize humanities, STEM, and social sciences, fine arts, digital literacy, and emotional and social intelligence. In order to achieve the objectives, in addition to the curriculum applicable to the Model Schools, there will be Groups and Clusters offering supplementary subjects in STEM, humanities, foreign languages, arts, culture, and sports. Students will also benefit from innovative projects, remedial teaching, and preparation for national examinations carried out in the Groups and Clusters.

Participation of the students in the Groups and Clusters will be mandatory for at least 10 educational hours per week throughout the school year.

Will the Public Onassis Schools interact with other local public schools?

The goal is to foster collaboration that will enhance public education overall. Students from other public schools in the same area may participate in the Groups and Clusters upon application and approval by the Public Onassis Schools Principal.

How will students be admitted to the Public Onassis Schools, and how will the teaching staff be selected?

Students entering the first year of junior or senior high school will undergo written entrance exams (tests) of knowledge and skills, similar to the process for Model Schools.

Educators will also be selected following similar procedures used for the teaching staff of the Model Schools.

What are the Onassis Foundation’s obligations under the contract?

The Onassis Foundation, through a donation totaling 160 million euros over 12 school years, will cover the equipment and infrastructure upgrades for the existing buildings of the 22 school units. The Foundation will allocate up to 1 million euros per school unit to upgrade and improve infrastructure and 500,000 euros per school unit annually to support activities and cover costs. Additionally, the Onassis Foundation will provide 6 million euros for unforeseen expenses arising from the Public Onassis Schools network operation.

The Onassis Foundation will cover the additional remuneration of the teachers and administrative staff of the Public Onassis Schools for extra work beyond their regular working hours, as well as the costs of running the Groups and Clusters. The Onassis Foundation will cover the costs for the development and training of the teaching staff through participation in educational programs in Greece or abroad and for scholarships.

What are the obligations of the Greek State?

Beyond the Onassis Foundation's donation, funding for Public Onassis Schools will align with that of Model Schools. Teaching and administrative staff salaries will be covered by the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports, and operating costs by the respective municipalities.

When will the agreement take effect?

The agreement will enter into force upon its ratification by the Parliament and its publication in the Official Government Gazette. This partnership between the Onassis Foundation and the Greek State follows the successful model of the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center. In 2018, the “Ratification of the Donation Agreement between the ‘Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation,’ the ‘Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center (O.C.S.C.)’ and the Greek State” was passed (on September 27, 2018) with a broad majority and the support of the following political parties: SYRIZA, ANEL, Nea Dimokratia, Democratic Coalition (PASOK), and To Potami (The River).