The Greek tradition of protest sit-ins that lead to students taking control of their high school to prevent lessons from taking place decreased from 500 to 364 schools on Tuesday according to data by the Ministry of Education. The action started on Sunday when an invitation on Facebook, titled “Panhellenic Occupation, No to the New System”, invited over 194,500 students to participate in sit-ins as a form of protest against educational reforms that have heralded a more grueling education system that includes an exam topics pool from the first year of senior high school (Year 10) as well as against teacher and textbook protests and structural problems within schools.
Education Minister Andreas Loverdos stated his intent to activate a presidential decree allowing him to add extra class hours over Easter if school sit-ins exceeded three days. Meanwhile, Supreme Court Prosecutor Efterpi Koutzamani sent a circular to prosecutors that asked them to ensure the normal operation of schools.
Banner says: “AN END TO PANHELLENIC (university entrance) EXAMS FROM 1st OF LYCEUM (Year 10) NOW!”
Deputy Education Minister Alexandros Dermentzopoulos told Vima radio station that sit-ins had become a “tradition” shortly before the November 17 anniversary of the Polytechnic uprising. The occupation of the Polytechnic signified the end of the military dictatorship and made sit-ins a socially acceptable form of protest in Greece. The economic crisis has heralded a massive wave of such occupations in recent years with students taking part in sit-ins to spotlight issues such as lack of books and teachers.
“Up to three days of an occupation does not create a problem. But if the phenomenon intensifies, you understand we will have a problem with teaching the curriculum and then we have the option of implementing either the presidential decree, or modifying this and including, in addition to the Easter holidays, some Saturdays, holidays and school trips. We will see, depending on how things develop,” said Mr. Dermentzopoulos though he ruled out measures to forcefully stop the protests.
Banner says “SIT-IN”
On Wednesday, all schools are closed as teachers are holding elections to vote for representatives in staff councils.
A short film about a love, a better world and a student sit-in…
