The number of Greek teachers applying to retire has tripled in the last year according to the Greek Deputy Minister for Education Evi Christofilopoulou.
11 466 teachers have applied to retire from teaching in Greece thus far this year.
3 930 primary school teachers and 7 536 secondary teachers have applied for retirement.
This is in contrast to the whole of 2009 which saw 4 355 teachers retire.
The gaps in teaching will be covered by decreasing the number of secondments, reallocating teachers from areas which were over serviced and by the appointment of new teachers where necessary.
Close to 5 000 teachers are expected to return back to the classroom to teach from secondments.
The Deputy Minister added that regional educational authorities will also be able to transfer teachers between schools to meet any staffing shortfalls, as long as the are in the same or neighbouring prefecture