Education Minister Nikos Filis refered to the VAT hike for private education and the current teacher shortages in public schools in an interview with private MEGA TV on Saturday morning. His statement concerning the fact that a VAT hike in private education is nothing more than “peanuts” had the press reeling in recent days.

“Nobody is without sin, but at least I am honest. I don’t like sleek statements but the essence of the matter,” he said when asked about his insensitive comments, adding that he would not have made such a statement had he known what the press would have made of it. “When somebody can give 7,000 euros per year, then what’s the big deal about another 500 euros?” Rather than explain his thinking, his new comments prompt further outrage when bearing in mind that 13% of 7,000 euros is actually 910 euros, whereas if the rate is lifted to 23% – as initially planned – the extra tax would explode to 1,610 euros for parents, such as Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras himself, who send their children to private schools in the hope of avoiding the weaknesses of the state system (e.g. teacher shortages, student sit-ins, lack of organization etc.)

Filis said that sending children to private schools was a “social choice” rather than a necessity. Nonetheless, he differentiated private education from language institutes, refering to the right of students to learn at least one foreign language.

He said that the State cannot serve the belief that private schools are good and state schools lacking, stating that this is a misconstruance. He said that the goal is to upgrade state schools, however he shrugged when asked how this upgrade could possibly take place when state funding for education is being reduced. Despite reductions in state funding, Filis expressed the hope that more parents would choose state education for their children. “If only we could have another 20,000 students in the state system,” he said. “It is the state’s obligation to offer education. To upgrade the state school. I did not mean that the parent should take their child out of private schools. We want a more credit and upgraded state school. The money given to private education is distortion. In this way, free education is not free. The upgrading of the state system, means money.”

“Is the view that the average Greek has one of a delapidated education system?” he asked. “Public education is undermined and that is a reason why people send their children to private (schools). It is a social choice.”

Regarding the gaps in state schools, Filis refered to an amendment that will syphon funds from other sectors so that there are another 2,000 recruitments of teachers in state schools. Each year for the last seven years there have been problems. On September 12, all teachers need to be at their posts.” He spoke of hte need for permanent appointments and the reduction of teacher transfers pointing out that there are 4,000 at transfers to other services at the moment, whereas 25,000 retired over the last five years. “I am nt promising anything. The goal of the ministry is to know what the gaps will be by May 31. We will be judged, and I’m not promising to build bridges. It is a matter of definition how somebody interprets a gap.”