For many Greek families, private lessons are a familiar part of school life. But international parents in Greece may need to pause before copying the tutoring habits around them, especially when reputable international schools in Greece already provide support and universities increasingly value authenticity, independent thinking and a student’s own voice.
The Greek Afternoon Classroom
For many children in Greece, the school day does not end when the bell rings. The afternoon often belongs to the frontistirio (a private tutoring centre), the private tutor, the language school, or the online lesson fitted between homework, sport and dinner. This parallel system is often described as shadow education, because it follows and mirrors the official school system while operating outside it.
Its growth is closely linked to the structure of Greek education. University admission in Greece depends heavily on competitive examinations, while many families believe that the public school system does not provide sufficient preparation on its own for these high-stakes pathways. As a result, private tutoring is often treated not as an occasional remedy for weak performance, but as a strategic part of exam preparation.
This helps explain why many Greek families do not view private lessons as excessive. They are often seen as a responsible investment in a child’s future, especially in a society where higher education carries strong social, professional and emotional value. The European Commission’s Education and Training Monitor notes that Greek society places a high value on higher education, which helps explain why families may be reluctant to leave exam preparation to school alone.
The scale of the phenomenon confirms how normalised it has become. According to a 2026 study by KANEP-GSEE, Greek households spent €614 million on private tutoring centres in 2023, the highest amount of the decade. The same study found that 94.6% of this spending concerned secondary education, reflecting the central role of the Panhellenic exams, Greece’s national university entrance exams.
The same data also show the pressure behind the spending. According to KANEP-GSEE, 48.7% of parents believed their child would not have passed the Panhellenic exams without private tutoring centres, while half of parents also felt that tutoring placed a financial burden on families and overloaded students. In other words, many parents appear to experience tutoring as both necessary and burdensome.
The pattern extends beyond core school subjects. Many Greek students also attend extra lessons for English and other foreign language qualifications, often from a young age. This widens the role of shadow education further, making school only one part of a broader learning routine.
A Note for International Parents
Although this reliance on private tutoring is especially visible in the Greek public education system, the same mentality can also be carried into international schools in Greece. Greek families whose children attend international schools may continue to arrange private tutors, subject-specific lessons or exam preparation outside school, and this can influence the wider parent culture around them.
When the Mentality Enters International Schools
For foreign parents, this can be puzzling. A parent may hear that their child’s Greek classmates have maths tutors, physics tutors, language lessons or exam preparation outside school, and begin to wonder whether they should be doing the same.
In many cases, this worry is unnecessary. A well-established international school should already provide structured teaching, academic feedback, pastoral care and university preparation. Families comparing schools can use our guide to International Schools in Greece to understand curricula, qualifications and support systems more clearly.
Extra help can still be valuable when a student has a specific gap, a difficult subject or a stressful exam period ahead. The question is not whether a child should ever have a tutor, but whether the tutoring is helping the student become more confident, independent and able to explain their own thinking. This becomes especially important when support moves from subject teaching into written work, projects or university applications.
Tutors, AI and University Entry
By the time students finish secondary education and apply to university, they need to have developed more than good grades. Universities expect students to work independently, understand their subjects, write in their own voice and explain the ideas behind their applications. This is why heavy support from tutors or AI tools can become risky when it improves the final text without strengthening the student’s own thinking.
This is particularly important in UK applications, where authenticity matters more than perfection. In Xpat.gr’s interview Authenticity, Fit, and the Future of UCAS, Kay Fitzpatrick of HALO Education explained that students must be able to explain and evidence what they include in their applications.
UCAS also warns students to be careful about relying too much on AI when writing a personal statement, because anything not in the student’s own words could be flagged and may affect offers. It also reminds applicants that anything included in an application may need to be discussed or evidenced later.
This does not mean students should receive no help. A tutor can help a student organise ideas, understand what a university is asking for and reflect more clearly on their experience. The problem begins when a tutor shapes too much of the writing, or when AI is used to polish every sentence until the result sounds fluent but no longer feels like the student.
The United States is moving in a similar direction, although through a different route. Yale announced that applicants will again be required to submit ACT or SAT scores, stating that academic strength remains central to admissions and that test scores can help identify well-prepared candidates.
The important point for parents is this: universities are becoming more alert to the difference between polished presentation and genuine academic readiness. A student who looks perfect on paper still needs to show that they can think, explain and defend their own work.
“Perfect Work” vs Actual University Performance
Once students reach college or university, they are expected to demonstrate independent thinking. They must be able to explain their ideas, defend their arguments, solve problems and show that the work they submit reflects their own understanding. This is not only about exams. It also applies to essays, research projects, presentations, portfolios and seminar discussions.
The rise of AI has made the issue harder to ignore. In a recent Associated Press report republished by U.S. News, educators described a growing return to oral exams and face-to-face questioning as a way to check whether students truly understand the work they submit. The concern is highly relevant for families in Greece too: polished work matters less if the student cannot explain the thinking behind it.
This is especially important for students preparing for international university pathways. A child who becomes too dependent on a tutor, or too used to AI support for writing, may produce work that looks impressive but cannot explain the reasoning behind it. That is a risk in a world where universities increasingly ask students to show authenticity, judgement and independent thought.
What Kind of Tutor Helps?
None of this means tutoring is the problem. The right tutor can make a real difference, especially when students are navigating unfamiliar curricula, demanding subjects or competitive exams. Families should look for tutors who understand contemporary assessment, ethical AI use and the importance of keeping the student’s own voice intact.
A useful tutor asks students to explain how they reached an answer, not only whether the answer is correct. They help with planning, revision and confidence, while leaving the intellectual work where it belongs. They may use AI as a learning tool, but they do not allow it to become a substitute for thinking, writing or understanding.
For students following international pathways such as the IB or A Levels, this balance becomes even more important. As we explain in our guide to IB vs A Levels, different systems reward different strengths, and extra support should match the student’s curriculum, learning style and long-term goals.
What Parents Should Ask Before Adding a Tutor
- Is my child struggling with a specific subject, or am I reacting to what other parents are doing?
- Has the school already offered support, feedback or a clear academic plan?
- What exactly do I want the tutor to help with: understanding, revision, exam technique, confidence, or written work?
- Will the tutor help my child explain ideas independently, or mainly improve the finished work?
- Can the tutor guide my child in using AI tools ethically, without replacing their own thinking?
- Will this support reduce anxiety and build confidence, or add another layer of pressure?
For international parents in Greece, the local tutoring culture is worth understanding, but it does not need to be copied. Strong schools and thoughtful tutors can work well together when the aim is not perfect homework, but a student who can think clearly, speak honestly and stand behind their own work.
