The staffing of schools is proceeding smoothly and is expected to be completed within the timeframes set forth by law, according to reliable sources from the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Youth to KYPE.

According to the same sources, the process is expected to be completed in early September, with the exception of a few special cases.

In elementary education, based on the approved staffing caps, there is an increase in the total number of teachers needed for the 2026–2027 school year compared to the 2025–2026 school year.

In General Secondary Education, according to the same sources, no significant change is expected in the total number of teachers compared to the previous school year, although it is not yet possible to answer the question of whether there will be teachers who, during the 2025–2026 were on contract and will not be appointed (as permanent on probation or on contract). The same question remains unresolved with regard to Secondary Technical and Vocational Education and Training. The Ministry of Education and Culture informs the EUY of the number of appointments, and the EUY is the agency responsible for announcing the appointments, according to KYPE.

Elementary Education

Regarding school staffing, contracts, and permanent positions—specifically, how many had contracts last year, how many will not be working this year, how many will be hired on indefinite contracts, and how many permanent appointments will be made, according to CNA sources regarding the Directorate of Primary Education, the staffing process is proceeding as normal, in cooperation with the Educational Service Commission (ESC).

“The E.E.Y. has announced the transfers, as well as emergency transfers, and further transfer announcements will follow. The permanent probationary appointments already announced by the E.E.Y. are continuing because some individuals did not accept their positions. In addition, the E.E.Y. has been following a new system for contract appointments since last year, and so far the first relevant announcement has been made; however, other allocations/announcements will follow, and the process is affected each time by non-acceptances,” they add.

Permanent Appointments (Permanent Appointments on Probation)

Regarding permanent appointments (permanent appointments on probation), as reported by the same CNA sources, the E.E.Y. announced the permanent appointments on probation; however, new permanent appointments are being made due to non-acceptance.

For the 2026–2027 school year, the positions for permanent appointments on probation are as follows: Elementary School Teachers – New permanent positions: 172; Vacancies resulting from retirements, resignations, etc.: 59. Total: 231. Preschool Teachers – New permanent positions: 108; Vacancies resulting from retirements, resignations, etc.: 28. Total: 136. Specialists – New permanent positions: 314; Vacancies resulting from retirements, resignations, etc.: 14. Total: 328.

Contract Appointments

Regarding the approved cap on contracts, which specifies the maximum number of contract employees to be appointed, the same sources indicate that the maximum number of contract employees (cap) for teachers/is 711, for preschool teachers 244, and for special education teachers 659.

They note that the final number of appointments will become clear toward the end of the staffing process, based on the remaining needs, that is, in early September.

Permanent Contracts

Based on the available data provided by the E.E.Y., the number of teachers on permanent contracts is as follows: Existing permanent teachers – Elementary school teachers: 12, Kindergarten teachers: 7, and those who will have completed 30 months and whose contracts will be converted to permanent status as of September 1, 2026 – 280 elementary school teachers, 38 preschool teachers.

Regarding permanent special education teachers: Special Learning, Cognitive, Functional, and Adaptive Difficulties 173, Speech-Language Pathology 136, Deaf Education: 7, Blind Education: 0, Educational Audiology: 0, Adaptive Physical Education: 9, Physical Therapy: 12, Music Therapy: 12, Occupational Therapy: 14. Total: 363.

Contract Appointments at Optional Full-Day Schools (P.O.S.)

Meanwhile, in addition to the permanent appointments and contracts mentioned above that pertain to the morning shift, contract appointments will also be made at the P.O.S. (29 full-time positions out of 29, and 20 part-time positions out of 29, and 15 part-time positions out of 29).

The number of contract positions at Optional Full-Day Schools (P.O.S.) for the 2026–2027 school year—in elementary schools, Kindergartens, and Special Schools, according to KYPE sources, is as follows: Category 1: Number of positions 150, periods 29/29 – Elementary Schools 112, Kindergartens: 34, and Special Schools: 4; Category 2: Number of spots: 398, Periods: 20/29 – Elementary Schools, Kindergartens, Special Education Schools; Category 3: Number of positions: 560; Periods: 15/29 – Elementary Schools, Preschools, Special Education Schools. Total: 1,108

Regarding the 150 full-time contract positions (S.P.A. 29/29), the relevant list has been provided, including elementary schools, kindergartens, and special education schools to the E.E.Y.

The remaining 958 positions will be allocated to elementary schools, kindergartens, and special education schools during the second week of September 2026, taking into account the enrollment of children who have expressed interest in participating in the program, as well as the applications (second week of September) from permanent teachers who wish to work overtime in the P.O.S., once the transfers from the Central Education Office and the placements by the District Education Offices have been largely finalized.

How many will not be working this year

According to the same KYPE sources, the Directorate of Primary Education does not have data on how many people will not be working this year.

“First, the staffing process has not been completed, and once it is, it will become clear how many contract appointments were ultimately made. Even once the staffing process is complete, only the E.E.Y. will know which teachers who worked last year will not be working this year,” they add.

However, they note that, based on the approved staffing caps, there is an increase in the total number of teachers needed for the 2026–2027 school year compared to the 2025–2026 school year, as shown in the table below:

Elementary School 2026–2027: Permanent teachers: 4,521 (2025–2026 Ministry of Education approval: 4,352); Temporary teachers: 711 (2025–2026 Ministry of Education approval: 741). Total permanent and temporary staff: 5,232; Ministry of Education approval for 2025–2026: 5,093. Decrease/Increase: 139.

Pre-primary: Permanent staff for 2026–2027: 891; approved by the Ministry of Education for 2025–2026: 783; Temporary staff for 2026–2027: 244, and approval by the Ministry of Education for 2025–2026: 286. Total Permanent and Temporary: 1,135 and approved budget for 2025–2026: 1,069. Decrease/Increase: 66.

Special education: Permanent staff for 2026–2027: 997, and approval by the Ministry of Education for 2025–2026: 683; Temporary staff for 2026–2027: 659, and approval by the Ministry of Education for 2025–2026: 728. Total Permanent and Temporary Staff: 1,656 and Ministry of Education approval for 2025–2026: 1,411. Decrease/Increase: 245.

Total for the Primary Education Directorate: Permanent staff for 2026–2027: 6,409 and approved budget for 2025–2026: 5,818, Temporary staff for 2026–2027: 1,614; approved by the Ministry of Education for 2025–2026: 1,755. Total Permanent and Temporary Staff: 8,023; Ministry of Education approval for 2025–2026: 7,573. Decrease/Increase: 450.

As noted by CNA sources, although there appears to be a decrease in the number of temporary (contract) preschool teachers, teachers, and special education teachers for the 2026–2027 school year, there is in fact an increase in the total number of preschool teachers, elementary school teachers, and special education teachers, because it was decided to increase the number of permanent positions in the 2026 budget, but the corresponding reduction in the number of temporary positions was not made, due to the additional staffing needs that arose for the 2026–2027 school year (increase in the number of classes, new requirements due to the new teacher and educational performance evaluation system, etc.).

Therefore, based on this data, the number of teaching staff needed will be higher than last year, so if someone who worked last year does not work this year, it is not expected to be due to a reduction in staffing needs.

Secondary General Education

As for the Directorate of Secondary General Education, sources at the Ministry of Education and Culture (YPAN) told CNA that the Public Service Commission (EEU) has announced the appointments of 707 permanent teachers on probation, effective September 1, 2026.

They note that on July 31, 2026, the EEY announced the placement of 202 tenured teachers for the 2026–2027 school year, and on the same day announced the first round of appointments for 613 contract teachers.

They also report that by the end of August, the EEY will issue one or two additional rounds of announcements regarding the appointment of contract teachers to complete the staffing process.

“The total number of contract teachers is estimated at approximately 900. With these appointments, staffing at school units is essentially complete (99.8%). The total number of teachers for the 2025–2026 school year was 7,210, and no significant change is expected for the upcoming 2026–2027 school year,” they add.

When asked whether there will be teachers who were on contract during the 2025–2026 school year but will not be appointed (either as permanent teachers on probation or on contract), the same sources state that this question cannot be answered at this time because the Ministry of Education informs the EUY of the number of appointments, and the EUY is the agency responsible for announcing the appointments (names and educational district of employment).

Secondary Technical and Vocational Education and Training

Regarding the Directorate of Secondary Technical and Vocational Education and Training, sources told CNA that school staffing is proceeding smoothly and is expected to be completed within the timeframes set forth by law.

“The process is expected to be completed in early September, with the exception of a few special cases,” they added.

They also note that during the previous school year, a total of 242 contract instructors were hired, while for the new school year, 86 new permanent positions have been approved at STEEC, and 25 instructors have been placed on indefinite-term contracts.

They note that, based on current needs, it is estimated that 184 contract instructors will be required, while this number is expected to increase once student enrollment at STEEK is complete and educational needs are finalized.

“The number of contract instructors also includes permanent instructors. As for the number of contract instructors who will not be working during this school year, it is not yet possible to provide definitive figures, as the staffing process is still underway and the final staffing needs will be determined after enrollment is complete for all STEEC programs and the overall staffing process is finalized,” the same sources concluded in response to a related question.

Source: KYPE