Thousands of students and pupils have protested in Athens and Thessaloniki, demanding more funding for public education, improved conditions in schools and universities, and the withdrawal of reforms that, according to them, endanger free education.
The protest began at 11:00 in front of the University of Athens, from where the demonstrators marched towards Syntagma Square, to gather in front of the Greek Parliament, under the watchful eye of police forces.
In their hands they held banners with messages such as "From Greece to France, we fight for free public education," while another slogan that attracted attention was "To study or to survive?", borrowed from the student protest movement in France.
In front of Parliament, protesters also dumped bags of inert waste in protest of the dilapidated state of the schools. They are demanding urgent intervention to repair the buildings, which are reported to have leaking roofs, crumbling plaster and broken radiators.
According to police, 4 people participated in the protests held in Athens and Thessaloniki.
The demands of students and pupils are concrete: increased state funding for education, urgent inspections and repairs of schools, permanent employment to fill thousands of vacant positions in the education system, as well as a reduction in the number of students in classes.
In support of the protest, the secondary education teachers' union, OLME, organized a four-hour strike, starting at 10:00, to give teachers the opportunity to join the demonstration.
Another major concern that has fueled discontent is the rising cost of living. Students say rents have reached up to 800 euros per month, making it increasingly difficult to afford expenses and continue their studies.
For this reason, unions are demanding the establishment of a monthly housing allowance for students, as well as the limitation of rental prices, arguing that more and more young people are facing the economic impossibility of pursuing education.
