Greece: Education needs assessment (May 2016)

One-hundred percent of child refugees and migrants stranded in sites across Greece are out of school. For the majority of girls and boys, their education has been disrupted for far longer than their journey to Europe, and the time they have spent waiting in Greece. On average, children have been out of school for 1.5 years.

Education has emerged as a clear priority for children, and their caregivers. 77% of girls and boys listed going back to school as one of their top priorities, followed by Family (60%), Health (43%) and Home (28%). One in three parents and caregivers reported that education was the key reason for leaving for Europe. 

Since the borders to FYR of Macedonia closed, the context in Greece has shifted to a more static one, whereby families and children are expected to remain in reception sites for several months whilst their registration, asylum claims, and applications for reunification or relocation are processed. This change presents an opportunity to authorities, donors, and humanitarian actors to get children back to school. Further disruption to their learning must be prevented.