The Refugee Education Coordinator (REC) is an institutional role established under Law 4547/2018 (Article 77), appointed in refugee reception facilities by the Ministry of Education. A permanent educator is seconded for one academic year to supervise and coordinate educational provision, collaborate with educational authorities, agencies, and international organizations, and submit recommendations and reports concerning refugee children’s education. Under international human rights law and refugee law, education is a fundamental, inalienable right without discrimination.
The REC plays a vital mediator role between refugee communities and the Greek educational system: raising awareness among parents about the necessity of school attendance and the legal obligation to register their children, facilitating linguistic and geographic access, organizing meetings between parents and educators, coordinating integration initiatives, and ensuring that reception class facilities (DYEP) or urban education settings—where refugee children attend regular morning classes alongside Greek peers in schools situated within the urban fabric, operate effectively within the public education framework.
The importance of this role lies in identifying and addressing immediate challenges, promoting inclusion, and safeguarding the right to education for all children—thus contributing to social cohesion and long-term development.