Greek Teachers to Undergo Intensive AI Training in Landmark OpenAI Partnership

Greece Pioneers AI Integration in Education

Secondary school teachers across Greece are set to embark on an intensive training program focused on artificial intelligence tools, following a new agreement between the Greek government and OpenAI. This initiative, part of the broader 'OpenAI for Greece' program, aims to equip educators with the skills to effectively integrate AI into the classroom, marking Greece as one of the first countries globally to deploy ChatGPT Edu at scale in its education system.

Pilot Program and Training Details

The pilot program, which commenced this academic year (2025-2026), involves upper-secondary teachers from initially 20 selected schools, chosen to represent diverse regional and socio-economic backgrounds. Teacher training began around October-November 2025, with pilot implementation scheduled for December 2025. Full integration across the Greek education system is anticipated by 2027.

The training will focus on several key objectives:

• Building AI literacy among educators.
• Boosting teacher productivity.
• Integrating AI responsibly into daily teaching practices.
• Assisting with lesson planning, research, and personalized tuition.

ChatGPT Edu, a specialized version of OpenAI's chatbot designed for academic institutions, will be the primary tool. It offers enterprise-grade security and GDPR compliance, and can perform tasks such as reasoning across text and images, data analysis, document interpretation, code writing, web browsing, and content summarization.

Key Stakeholders and Vision

The agreement was formalized with a Memorandum of Understanding signed by key figures including Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, President of the Onassis Foundation Anthony S. Papadimitriou, and OpenAI's Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane. The Onassis Foundation will lead the implementation, with local partners like The Tipping Point in Education coordinating teacher onboarding and day-to-day delivery. A joint task force, including representatives from the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Education, will oversee the pilot.

Greek Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki emphasized the necessity of this integration, stating, 'We have to accept that AI does not exist in a parallel universe. It is here.' Chris Lehane of OpenAI highlighted Greece's historical connection to education, remarking, 'From Plato's Academy to Aristotle's Lyceum—Greece is the historical birthplace of western education.'

Broader Implications and Concerns

This educational initiative is part of a wider strategy to position Greece as a technological hub, complementing a Greek AI Accelerator Program launched with Endeavor Greece to support local startups. While the program is largely seen as a progressive step, some teachers and students have expressed concerns regarding the potential impact on critical thinking, the risk of screen addiction, and the possibility of AI generating false or misleading information. The Ministry of Education has established strict data protection protocols to ensure ethical and responsible AI use.