The OE2026 proposal presented today in parliament outlines expenditure of 7.54 billion euros on Education for the next year, not including higher education costs. This represents an increase of 324.5 million euros (up 4.5%) compared to 2025.
According to the budget proposal, over 82.3% of the expenses, approximately 6.2 billion euros, are allocated for personnel costs. This amount includes an additional 207 million euros to cover salary increases due to the recovery of service time and to hire more teachers and fund “career enhancement,” as noted in the document.
The proposal emphasizes promoting the attraction and retention of teaching careers and reversing the effects of retirements, explaining a 3.5% increase in personnel expenses.
The government plans to spend 464.4 million euros in current transfers for preschool education and private and cooperative education, with an additional specific allocation of 946.7 million euros.
Of this, 736.5 million euros will go towards preschool education and 210.2 million euros for private and cooperative schools, marking an overall increase of 6.9% compared to this year’s transfers: an increase of 7.8% for preschool education and 3.6% for private institutions.
For the normal operation of schools and the acquisition of materials, OE2026 allocates 390.9 million euros. This funding will ensure the continuation of social educational programs, special education, rental of sports facilities, and the program for free textbooks and digital licenses.
Projects to eliminate paper-based external assessment exams and enhance digital transition in schools, particularly by improving school Internet services, are also planned under this category, which sees a decrease of 25.9% compared to 2025 estimates.
However, there is an increased allocation for capital goods acquisition, with a projected budget of 136.4 million euros, focusing on school investments and digital transition within the General Directorate of Education. This includes the “production and provision of quality educational digital resources and content to be used in all schools and the installation and modernization of specialized technological centers in industrial, renewable, computing, and digital technologies.”
These expenditures are largely funded by tax revenues (6.954 billion euros), supplemented by just over 326 million euros from European funds.
