Unable to protect students from the pandemic, Greek Education Minister proceeds with punitive measures

01/10/2020

October 1, 2020

Greece’s Education Minister has threatened to block protesting students from the compulsory e-classes if they continue to occupy schools at the expense of an increase number of “absence” in their records. She went further and said even to mark their “behavior” as “bad.”

Obsessed with the “punitive education system” of the 1950’s, conservative Education Minister Niki Kearameos apparently believes and falsely thinks that she owns the secondary education in the country.

In the bubble of arrogance she lives in, she considers it as given that every school child has a computer at home and an internet connection. In this sense, she made e-learning compulsory for students in schools under occupation and in addition she “punishes” them with “bad behavior” and “absence.”

It is not even clear, whether Education Minister’s genius measures are conform with the laws and the Constitution.

Fed up with the lack of will on the part of the Minister to find solutions to protect students and teachers from the coronavirus and Kerameos’ threats and blackmails, thousands of students took to the streets also on Thursday morning

They demanded measures for the safe operation of schools in the middle of the pandemic.

What they want is less students per class – that is up to 15 and not up to 25-27 as currently – recruitment of teachers and cleaning staff.

Teachers unions and parents associations participated in the rally as well.

Short before the protest rally concluded in downtown Athens, a group of unknown people hurled stones, flares and Molotov cocktail bombs at riot police that responded with tear gas.

Άλλο ένα παιδαγωγικό μέτρο της κυβέρνησης μετά τις απειλές, τς εισαγγελείς κ τις προσαγωγές μαθητών.

Χημικά κ καταστολή στην μεγάλη διαδήλωση στην Αθήνα.

Τα αιτήματα των μαθητών είναι δίκαια κ θ νικήσουν.
Μαζί τους μέχρι τέλους.#energoimathites #Κεραμεως #σχολεια #καταληψεις pic.twitter.com/D7iapCUWjz

— Covid19energoi (@Covid19energoi) October 1, 2020

The use of tear gas at high-school children, nurses and doctors seems to be the only “creative” way the Greek government thinks as appropriate to deal with problems that shake the Greek society amid the pandemic.

With restrictions and punishment only authoritarian regimes “solve” problems… But it’s not only Kerameos’ fault. It it the government that does not want to spend on education and health.