Greece's main opposition party, Syriza, has denounced the country's public education spending after new figures showed it ranked second from bottom in the European Union.
According to official data from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, Greece allocated just 3.3 percent of its gross domestic product to public education in 2023. This expenditure fell significantly below the European Union average of 4.7 percent for the same period.
In a statement issued on 19 August 2026, Syriza described the figures as revealing and emphasized that Greece ranked penultimate among the 27 member states of the European Union, positioning the country ahead of only Romania.
State budget allocations
Syriza warned that the financial trajectory outlined in the 2026 Greek state budget presented an even more concerning outlook for the nation. The party stated that education was consistently losing ground within overall government expenditure, even as operational demands across primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions continued to expand.
The opposition party accused the Greek government of making a deliberate political choice to leave public education underfunded. According to the party, this policy forces schools and universities to struggle with aging and inadequate building infrastructure, widespread teacher shortages, and unfulfilled requirements in special education and parallel support services.
Syriza added that public educational institutions were increasingly forced to seek private sponsorships to cover basic operational expenses and routine maintenance needs that should be funded by the state.
Syriza, formally known as the Coalition of the Radical Left Progressive Alliance, serves as the primary opposition party in the Hellenic Parliament in Athens. The party led the Greek government from 2015 to 2019 and has regularly advocated for expanded public sector investment in social services, public health, and state schools.
Proposals for educational reform
Addressing the economic framework of public services, Syriza emphasized that national economic growth only carries genuine value when its benefits are returned directly to broader society. The party argued that economic expansion must translate into improved schools and universities, increased teaching personnel, modernized learning facilities, and equal educational opportunities for all children.
To address the funding deficit, Syriza outlined a comprehensive reform package for the Greek educational system. The centerpiece of the proposal calls for establishing 14 years of compulsory education, extending from kindergarten through senior high school, while fully incorporating all existing types of secondary lyceums, including general and vocational schools.
The party's reform plan demands raising public education funding to 5 percent of gross domestic product. It calls for permanent appointments for teaching staff to resolve chronic shortage issues, alongside stable and sufficient funding for school and university infrastructure that prioritizes student safety and environmental quality. Additionally, Syriza demanded stronger resources for special education and parallel support to guarantee that every student receives dedicated assistance.
Public investment priorities
Concluding its statement, Syriza declared that public education represents one of the most vital long term investments a society can make. The party stressed that educational funding directly influences the development of the younger generation, social mobility, democratic institutions, and the future prosperity of the nation.
Syriza maintained that because public schooling shapes foundational societal outcomes, the ongoing national debate over education funding is ultimately a fundamental debate over government political priorities.
