More than 10,000 Greeks protest cost of living and school problems
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Expresso das Ilhas
More than 10,000 students, teachers and public-sector employees demonstrated in several Greek cities against the cost of living and difficulties in the education system. Police counted about 5,000 participants in Athens and 3,000 in Thessaloniki, while the secondary-school teachers’ federation estimates that 15,000 teaching posts are unfilled, reports ERT.
More than 10,000 students, pupils, teachers and public-sector employees demonstrated today in several Greek cities against the high cost of living and difficulties in education, according to Expresso das Ilhas. Police recorded about 5,000 people in Athens and 3,000 in Thessaloniki; public broadcaster ERT counted more than 3,000 in Patras.
Secondary-school pupils and teachers denounced staff and infrastructure shortages, as well as the deteriorating condition of school buildings. According to Olme, the Greek federation of secondary-school teachers, the country’s schools are short of about 15,000 teachers.
The public servants’ confederation Adedy joined the demonstrations and called for a work stoppage. It is demanding pay rises and a substantial increase in support for teachers. Students have been camping in Athens and Thessaloniki since Tuesday.
Demonstrators also raised safety concerns in schools. A 14-year-old pupil was recently injured when part of a ceiling fell in a classroom in Thermi, near Thessaloniki. A large Athens secondary school has been closed for two weeks because of an alert over a gas leak.
Greece spent 3.3% of its gross domestic product on education in 2023, compared with an average of 4.7% in the European Union, according to Eurostat. Demonstrators drew a parallel with mobilisations in France and defended free public education.
The rallies are part of a wave of European demonstrations over the cost of living, following protests by hundreds of thousands of people reported on 18 October in several European countries.
Summary produced with the help of artificial intelligence tools, under AFREEQUE’s editorial responsibility.
