Around 5,000 people took to the streets of Athens to protest over education shortages, funding and the rising cost of living, joining a wider wave of demonstrations inspired by protests in France and other parts of Europe.
Students and teachers called for increased public investment in education, permanent teacher appointments and smaller, less-crowded classrooms, arguing that shortages are affecting learning conditions and the quality of education.
Housing affordability was another major concern, with students saying stagnant wages and high rents in urban centres were making university life increasingly difficult to sustain. Their grievances echoed wider concerns across Europe over rising living costs and the financial pressures facing young people.
Officials said about 3,000 people also demonstrated in Thessaloniki and another 3,000 in Patras, while similar protests were held in other major Greek cities.
The demonstrations coincided with walkouts by primary school teachers and state hospital doctors, briefly disrupting some public services as workers and students voiced concerns over funding and working conditions.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ government maintained that public spending on schools had increased and that thousands of permanent teaching appointments had been made.
Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki acknowledged concerns over housing pressures and pointed to more than €733 million in ongoing projects for student accommodation and facility upgrades. She also said school closures were not the solution to the challenges facing the education system.
The protests underscore the competing pressures facing Greece’s education sector, as students and teachers demand better learning conditions and more affordable access to university while the government points to its investment and recruitment efforts.
