Greece Fast-Tracks AI Training for Secondary Teachers: What Educators Need to Know
Greece is putting secondary teachers through intensive training on classroom AI, starting with staff in 20 schools this week. The pilot uses a specialised version of ChatGPT built for academic settings, under a new agreement between the government and OpenAI.
"We have to accept that AI does not exist in a parallel universe. It is here," said education minister Sofia Zacharaki as the rollout began. The programme is set to expand nationwide in January.
How the pilot works
Early workshops will help teachers use the tool for lesson planning, research, formative feedback, and personalised support. ChatGPT Edu will be phased into school workflows, with older secondary students getting access next spring under strict monitoring.
Greece follows Estonia in moving early on classroom AI, backed by a national push to position the country as a tech hub. Prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has warned of social unrest if benefits remain concentrated in big tech, so the strategy emphasizes preparation and guardrails.
Support and oversight
OpenAI's Chris Lehane called the pilot a "new educational chapter" and said the company will oversee best practices for safe, effective use. The message from policymakers is clear: students already use these tools; schools need a coherent plan.
Student and teacher concerns you can't ignore
Not everyone is sold. Some students fear being outsmarted or pushed even harder by systems they don't trust. "It terrifies me," said 17-year-old Aristidis Tolos at a protest in central Athens. "AI doesn't have a soul, it's a machine."
Teacher groups worry about deeper issues. OLME officials report widespread concern, including fears of "teacherless" classes. Others warn the tech could weaken critical thinking if students are spoon-fed answers or if assessment remains exam-first.
Screen addiction is another flashpoint, especially as Greece moves to block social media for under-15s. "After 40 years of teaching, I can honestly say that screens have destroyed children," said retired headteacher Dimitris Panayiotokopoulos. "AI is not a panacea."
Infrastructure is a practical constraint. With less than 5% of the national budget going to education, some schools still struggle with heating, power, and basic facilities. Rolling out AI without fixing the fundamentals risks widening gaps.
Context from inside schools
Greece's classroom culture leans heavily on rote learning and high-stakes exams. "We shouldn't be technophobic. AI can help educators be more effective," said physics teacher Panos Karagiorgos. "But it's problematic when AI is used in a system whose sole aim is to produce pupils who can pass exams. That stifles creativity."
Private schools moved first. Athens College has already used AI for course design and instruction. "I don't think Greece should miss this passing train," said board chair Alexis Phylactopoulos, while emphasizing the need for strong guardrails and a focus on creativity and critical thinking.
What this looks like on the ground
- Teacher training on prompt quality, curriculum alignment, and classroom scenarios.
- Lesson planning templates that integrate AI suggestions with teacher judgment.
- Personalized practice sets, with teachers reviewing explanations for accuracy.
- Formative feedback that targets misconceptions instead of replacing student thinking.
- Clear classroom norms: when AI is allowed, how to cite it, and where it's off-limits.
- Bias and error checks: teachers model verification, sourcing, and fact-checking.
- Academic integrity workflows: originality checks plus oral defenses and drafts.
- Screen-time limits with offline tasks baked into every unit.
- Data privacy protocols and restricted student access tied to age and task.
- Infrastructure checks before rollout: reliable power, devices, and connectivity.
Practical checklist for school leaders
- Set three clear goals (e.g., save teacher prep time, improve formative feedback, support differentiation) and measure them monthly.
- Publish an AI use policy: permissions, boundaries, data handling, and parent comms.
- Pick a few high-value use cases first (draft rubrics, question banks, reading supports).
- Update assessment: more process evidence (drafts, reflections, oral checks), less pure product.
- Give teachers ongoing PD and coaching, not one-off workshops.
- Teach students verification, citation, and when to turn tools off.
- Plan for equity: device access, shared labs, and paper-based alternatives.
- Create a feedback loop with teachers and students; adjust every six weeks.
- Audit vendors for safety, transparency, and cost control.
- Have a backup plan for outages or misuse; practice it.
What to track (so AI serves learning, not the other way around)
- Teacher hours saved on planning and feedback.
- Student growth on reasoning tasks that require evidence and explanation.
- Quality of student writing and problem-solving across drafts.
- Offline engagement: experiments, discussions, and projects.
- Equity indicators: access, participation, and outcomes by group.
The bottom line for educators
AI will show up in your classroom-either unmanaged or with intent. The Greek pilot is a chance to set norms, teach thinking, and protect student agency.
Use the tool for what it's good at: options, drafts, and feedback. Keep the human work human: judgment, values, curiosity, and community.
Further reading and useful references
For structured training
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