The Federation of Private School Teachers of Greece (OILE) has raised alarms over the growing trend of foreign funds acquiring Greek private schools, with the historic Platon Schools becoming the latest institution to be sold. The buyer, British International School Partnerships, has now joined other international groups—such as Inspired Education Group, Cognita, and Dukes Education—in acquiring some of Greece’s most prestigious private schools, including CGS-Kostea-Geitonas, Moraitis, Doukas, and the International School of Athens.

OILE reports that two more large private schools in Athens are close to being acquired, with interest from investors in additional institutions.

A systemic shift

OILE attributes this influx of foreign investment to recent legislative changes that enable for-profit university institutions to operate in Greece, bypassing the constitutional prohibition of such establishments under Article 16. Furthermore, students can now enrol in these institutions without undergoing the Panhellenic Exams, provided their families can afford the tuition fees.

The federation warns that this creates a parallel educational system dominated by “super-private” schools catering to the wealthy, leaving public schools underfunded and disadvantaged children with fewer opportunities. “Foreign speculators smell blood,” OILE stated, adding that this shift risks consolidating inequalities, which it claims aligns with the government’s policy objectives.

Founder’s confession: “The government is forcing us to sell”

The founder of Platon Schools, Panagiotis Papadopoulos, reportedly told teachers that government policies have left Greek owners unable to compete with international educational giants. “The government policy with the measures it is taking is forcing us to sell out to the funds. Greek owners will no longer be able to compete,” he is quoted as saying.

Patterns of acquisition

OILE has identified trends among these acquisitions:

1. Targeting large schools with IB (International Baccalaureate) programs.
2. Retaining former owners temporarily in management roles to reassure parents.
3. Filling key management positions—including boards of directors and financial services—with fund executives.

OILE also noted differences in fund practices, citing Inspired Education Group’s ban on teachers posting political, religious, or financial content on personal social media, in contrast to the fund acquiring Platon Schools, which has promised salary increases.

The federation pledged to closely monitor the employment conditions of staff at these schools and intervene where necessary.

Concerns about IB in public education

The Ministry of Education’s collaboration with the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) to introduce IB programs in five pilot public high schools has raised concerns. OILE questions whether this initiative could pave the way for the privatisation of public education, especially given the introduction of tuition fees for these programs.

While the Education Minister has described the initiative as fostering “extroversion and equal opportunities for all,” OILE argues that tuition fees undermine equality and restrict opportunities to wealthier students. Instead, the federation advocates for the modernisation of Greece’s public education system.

“OILE has submitted proposals for a new public Lyceum, drawing from advanced international practices and incorporating critical learning and interdisciplinary approaches akin to the IB model. Rather than imposing tuition fees, the government should ensure all children, regardless of socioeconomic status, have access to high-quality educational services from preschool to a robust public university,” the federation stated.

OILE’s next steps

The federation announced that its board will meet in the coming days to discuss its response to the influx of foreign funds, including legal action against Inspired Education Group’s refusal to lift its digital restrictions on teachers. OILE plans to continue advocating for educational equity and the protection of public and private schools from unchecked privatisation.

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