Athens | November 6, 2025
Thousands of students, university groups, teachers, and parents took to the streets across Greece on November 6 in a series of nationwide demonstrations calling for sweeping reforms in the education sector. The protests, organized by unions and student federations, demanded permanent teacher appointments, higher salaries, improved teaching conditions, and better school infrastructure.
The rallies — held in major cities including Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, and Heraklion — saw participants march under banners reading “Education is a right, not a privilege” and “Support our schools, support our future.” Demonstrators decried what they described as years of underfunding, precarious employment for educators, and deteriorating classroom facilities.
At the heart of the protests was a demand for the permanent hiring of substitute and temporary teachers, who make up a significant portion of the country’s teaching workforce. Union representatives argued that without stable employment, the continuity and quality of education suffer.
Participants also called for salary revisions to match inflation and living costs, as well as upgrades to outdated school buildings and digital infrastructure. Student groups highlighted challenges such as overcrowded classrooms, lack of modern learning tools, and declining support services in universities.
The Greek Federation of Secondary Education State School Teachers (OLME) and the Federation of Primary Education Teachers (DOE) jointly led the mobilization, stating that this is “not just a teachers’ issue but a collective call for educational justice.”
In Athens, demonstrations culminated outside the Ministry of Education, where protestors submitted a memorandum demanding immediate talks with government officials. Police reported that the gatherings were largely peaceful, with minimal disruption to traffic and public transport.
The Ministry has acknowledged the grievances and promised to initiate dialogue with teacher unions and student representatives. However, no timeline has been announced yet for negotiations.
Observers note that the protests reflect broader frustrations in Europe’s education sector, echoing similar movements in Spain, France, and the UK, where educators are pressing for reforms in pay, staffing, and infrastructure investment.
