Map of occupied schools

Although the Higher Technological Educational Institutes (A.T.E.I.) are gradually opening again, schools are doing just the opposite. So, the new nightmare for the education ministry is the students, who are toughening their stance and spreading their protests throughout the country.

According to the ministry, they have taken over 180 schools in Attica, 119 in Macedonia, 22 in Peloponnisos, 6 in the Aegean, 6 in Thrace and 5 in Crete.

Despite Anna Papadiamantopoulou’s warnings, the students insist on their actions as they consider unacceptable the fact they have to start their classes with photocopies due to the severe book shortage.

The ministry answered yesterday by sending a circular to all schools, activating an older decision for the replacement of instruction hours that were lost because of occupations.

According to it (March ’08), if the time lost is not replaced upon the opening of schools, then there will have to be extra hours added after the completion of the daily program, wherever the teaching board deems it necessary.

Thus, students will be confronted with a new and unpleasant timetable, as they will have to go to school even on Saturdays and holidays, while longer and day excursions will be cut as well.

And if this does not suffice to cover the teaching material, then the ministry of education might prolong the school year after a documented recommendation by the regional directors of education.  

Schools that have been taken over:

Attica: 180

Central Macedonia: 119

Peloponnisos: 22

Northern Aegean: 6

Thrace: 6

Crete: 5