Demonstrations in Greece require better conditions for public education

Mislanders of students and teachers today manifest in Greece to demand more funding for public education, better conditions in schools and universities and support for students affected by increased cost of living.

In the Greek capital, the protesters, who concentrated at the University of Athens and went peacefully to Syntagma Square, in front of Parliament, carrying a banner that read “From Greece to France, we fought for free public education”, dispute the lack of adequate facilities, the shortage of staff and the poor state of school buildings.

“The problems are the same” in Greece and France, said French agency AFP Filanthi Gioni, an engineering student and elected student representative, regretting that public money is earmarked for NATO weapons and wars.

The Federation of Secondary Education Teachers (OLME) called for a four-hour standstill to allow teachers to participate in the demonstrations, which also took place in Thessaloniki.

In a statement, the organization said it supported students and students who claim the right to a free public education, as well as conditions of study and life that match their aspirations.

The mobilization also takes place in a context of increased cost of living in a country where wages remain low, and coincides with a strike day in France called by trade unions to demand better wages.

In recent weeks, demonstrations of secondary school students in France have extended to other European countries.

In Greece, a first mobilization on 21 October brought together more than 10,000 people in Athens and Thessaloniki, among other cities.

According to Eurostat, Greece allocated 3.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) to education in 2023, one of the lowest percentages in the European Union and below the EU average of 4.7%.

The social crisis in France has attracted interest in Greece, which has gone through a decade of financial crisis marked by violent demonstrations.

The Greek newspaper Kathimerini compares the current social crisis in France with the reality experienced by Greece about 16 years ago, commenting that the lack of political response through the vote pushes citizens to street protests because they feel abandoned by the state.

Meanwhile, trade unions and associations defending the right to housing in seven European countries, including Greece, called for coordinated demonstrations against rising cost of living by the end of November.