Greece: Tax Literacy Courses for… the Little Ones

“Why do we need taxes in our lives?” Students at Greek “dimotiko” schools will soon know the answer to this question.

Primary school students in Greece will begin learning the basics of tax law from the new school year, writes newsbeast.gr. Tax literacy lessons are being introduced into the primary education curriculum for the first time. Experts believe that this is an important step towards educating future citizens.

Innovative changes aim to introduce primary school students to the basic principles of taxationwhich is a fundamental parameter for building a tax-conscious society. They are aimed at developing tax ethics and a culture of compliance with tax legislation.

The new program is being developed by the Ministry of National Economy and Finance in cooperation with AADE and the Ministry of Education and Religion. It will include the creation of specialized advanced training seminars with an emphasis on tax education. The aim is to improve students' understanding of the concept of taxes, their function and importance to society as a whole.

Students will be introduced to basic concepts starting in 2nd grade.They learn, for example, who pays and collects taxes and why they are necessary to finance public goods and services.

The educational initiative is not limited to teaching only the technical aspects of taxation. It will introduce children to a system of values ​​and principles – justice, responsibility, social solidarity.

These lessons will help students appreciate the importance of tax compliance and understand their responsibility as future citizens. Interactive theory lessons and practical exercises will help them find answers to relevant questions: “Who pays for my school?”, “What VAT do we pay on goods?”, “How do taxes help finance public infrastructure?” and many others.

The innovative educational program will be tested in the 2024-2025 academic year, and full implementation is expected in the following 2025-2026. Surveys of teachers and preparation of the program began back in 2016. The study showed that the overwhelming majority is ready to actively support the introduction of this program into school life. According to a survey of 1,871 teachers:

• 85% said they believe tax education is necessary and are willing to help implement it.
• 95% of teachers believe that tax awareness is an educational issue and should be developed from an early age.
• 93% believe that educational programs of this type will lay the foundation for a more sustainable and fair tax system in the future.

But, as usual, problems do not bypass any undertaking. The multiple economic crises that have hit the country over the past 15 years have created an environment in which young people are exposed at an early stage to the negative consequences of a complex and often unfair tax system. Despite the challenges, the government is seeking to turn this situation around through education, giving children the knowledge and tools they need to better understand the importance of taxes and tax compliance.

The approach to the new subject will be pedagogical, adapted to the needs and perception abilities of students. Skills workshops will be fun and engaging, using methods that make learning more accessible and interesting. The aim is to inspire students to engage with tax issues through creative activities, offering them a realistic picture of how taxes affect their daily lives and their future.

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