Public Onassis Schools: The donation contract between the Onassis Foundation and the Greek State was signed
On Monday, January 20, 2025, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Anthony S. Papadimitriou, President of the Onassis Foundation, met in the Maximos Mansion for the signing of the donation contract for the establishment of the Public Onassis Schools. The donation contract was signed by Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports, and the President of the Onassis Foundation. The meeting was attended by other government officials concerned and members of the Onassis Foundation’s Board of Directors.
For 50 years, the Onassis Foundation has championed human development and evolution via pioneering initiatives in Education, Healthcare, and Culture. With a vision of a better society, it acknowledges that public education is the cornerstone for all active citizens. Every endeavor in the field of Education affirms the Onassis Foundation’s DNA, which pursues innovation and disruption, the power of its founder, Aristotle Onassis, and the hope symbolized by his son, Alexander Onassis.
At this historical moment, the Onassis Foundation believes that the best way to honor the past is to act in the present, with an eye to the future, where every child should have the opportunity to dream and pursue their aspirations, with the support they deserve.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports and through a generous donation of 160 million euros, 22 public secondary schools in areas across the country facing social and economic challenges are becoming Public Onassis Schools. Over 6,000 students annually and more than 22,000 students over a 12-year period across Greece will benefit from this initiative providing them access to high-quality public education. They will also be able to take part in Groups and Clusters with subjects that meet the needs of the twenty-first century. The Onassis Foundation will comprehensively upgrade these 22 schools with a budget of up to 1 million euros for each. Furthermore, the Onassis Foundation will pay up to 500,000 euros per year for each school to cover additional running expenses.
These 22 schools will remain public, and the teachers who work there will continue to be civil servants in the public education system. It goes without saying that attendance at the Public Onassis Schools is completely free of charge.
The Onassis Foundation believes that it is the duty of every rule-based, democratic state to ensure that its citizens have access to public goods: Education, Culture, and Healthcare must be accessible to all.
Through the Public Onassis Schools initiative, the Foundation stands as a facilitator, without substituting the state. It cooperates with the State and takes on its share of responsibility, always with the public benefit in mind, as defined by its mission.