Protests Escalate Over Cuts to All-Day Schools in Greece

Parents and teachers are escalating protests against cuts to all-day schools. The president of the DOE told in that the government is deceiving society and that new mobilizations are the only way forward.

The Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports (YPAITHA) introduced "priority criteria" for children's participation in all-day schools through a surprise circular on September 18. This happened while previous ministerial decisions and circulars assured that registrations would be accepted without conditions.

The Teachers' Federation of Greece (DOE) denounced the situation, arguing that students' educational rights are being violated and that the government is dismantling the Public School system. They demand the immediate withdrawal of the circular.

Parents' associations, teachers, and local government bodies have issued complaints. Protests have already taken place in Attica, and new ones are planned. School principals are being pressured to "cut" children or assign teachers to other schools.

On Thursday, October 2, Parents' Associations from five municipalities in Attica staged a protest at the education directorates of D'Athens. Parents reported that the response they received was that "access to all-day schools was not always free for everyone."

The president of the DOE, Spyros Marinis, stated that the ministry's orders are irregular and that the government is treating children like numbers. He also mentioned that 4,000 vacancies remain in primary education.

The DOE has decided on new mobilizations together with parents to demand hiring and coverage of all vacancies in education. A new protest is scheduled for Monday, October 7.