On Friday, July 10, a meeting was held between the Board of Directors of the Piraeus Teachers’ Association (ELME) and the new Director of Secondary Education (DIDE) for Piraeus.Also present at the meeting were the Head of the Personnel Department and Secretary of the Piraeus Regional Council of Secondary Education (PYSDE), as well as the Head of Disciplinary Affairs.
ELME raised some immediate and pressing issues, as well as some issues that colleagues brought to our attention prior to the meeting.
1) Regarding the placement process
The Piraeus Directorate of Secondary Education (DSE) has already begun assigning teachers—for the first time during the summer. The main reason cited by the DSE is to expedite the procedures, ensure the timely placement of teachers—especially substitute teachers—and note that this is standard practice for all DSE offices.
For our part, we have expressed our opposition to the way this process is being carried out. Of course, all teachers should know their school assignments well in advance. This is especially true for substitute teachers, who are indeed the ones who suffer the most and are shuffled around every year. This will happen, however, only through the mass permanent appointment of all colleagues who have to replace themselves year after year, so that the disgrace of contract teachers with reduced rights comes to an end (and certainly not by downsizing departments due to mergers and forcing colleagues out of schools). Otherwise, they’ll set out to ‘solve’ one problem only to create even bigger ones.
Specifically, we emphasized that this fragmentation of the process will result in placements occurring at different stages and with different vacancies each time, which will lead to unfairness and a lack of transparency. For example, given the current vacancies, the top-ranked applicant might apply and be placed at their first choice. However, in a subsequent phase or in September, new vacancies may arise or become available for any reason, and the person who has already been placed will not be able to apply even if they were ranked first. Furthermore, colleagues do not currently know whether they are surplus to requirements, and as a result, they may not submit an application. Finally, appointments may be made to vacancies that will no longer exist in September, for example, due to a reduction in the number of classes at the school. In fact, we cited specific examples of schools where this is set to happen through this process—something that has never happened before in Piraeus! Specifically regarding the 2nd District of Piraeus (for which they acknowledged that there were no transfer issues last year, since the number of hires is small and carefully managed), we said that the procedures could be completed very quickly by September 1, since we’re talking about very few hires. As for the staff shortage at the Regional Education Directorate (DDE) and the resulting delays, this is an issue that our Teachers’ Union (ELME) has highlighted many times, and we are fighting for the hiring of all necessary permanent staff.
The DIDE acknowledged these concerns, although it stated that all reported vacancies would be filled each time, that placements would be made as best as possible, that any mistakes made would not be intentional, etc. Although they told us they would consider our proposal, on Monday, July 13, they proceeded with the operational surplus regulation.They bear sole responsibility for the injustices and lack of transparency that this process will create, and they are accountable to their colleagues.
2) Regarding the number of classes and the number of students in them
The Director of Secondary Education told us that they have some estimate of the number of classes, but it is not final. They stated that most classes will have 20–22 students, that there will be a few with 25–27 students (citing that this is required by law), and very few classes with 28 students (he noted that this would only happen where there is no other option due to a lack of classrooms, e.g., at the Kallipolis High School). He also told us that efforts are being made to ensure that the spatial distribution of students results in small classes in schools. He also stated that he would accept the 1.5 square meters per person requirement and any other restrictions regarding class size reductions due to positive test results.
We conveyed our request to reduce class sizes based on the demands of the teaching profession and made it clear that we will not accept school mergers, prioritizing the educational rights of our students, since even with 25 students, the educational and pedagogical process cannot proceed smoothly.
We requested all the relevant information, and he promised to send us a detailed report by the end of the week.
3) Regarding funding for special education
We stated that this year ‘ended’ with a great many vacancies in Piraeus (213 in total—173 of them in special education). That the bill on special education, which merges the institutions of inclusion and parallel support, the establishment of inclusion classes that were not staffed or were not fully staffed, combined with the expiration of the NSRF in 2027 and the consequences this will have specifically for special education, foretells very negative developments for students with learning difficulties and disabilities. We asked to be informed about what is expected to happen in the new school year (budget projections). We stated that we will continue to advocate for whatever is necessary, especially in the sensitive area of special education.
The DID acknowledged the difficult situation regarding special education and told us that it would send us all the information it has within the week.
4) Regarding foreign languages
We highlighted the serious problem with foreign languages, since most schools did not offer a second foreign language and there were gaps in English instruction. This situation is unacceptable. We asked to be informed about how many classes remained unfilled last year and what the forecast is for the new school year, conveying the questions and concerns of our colleagues who teach foreign languages.
DIDE acknowledged the problem and promised to respond to our questions within the week.
5) For the 13th Junior High School
We asked about the issue that had arisen regarding its relocation (a change of location to the 1st Experimental Junior High School of Piraeus). The Director of Secondary Education told us that there had indeed been a proposal for relocation, which was rejected by the municipality, parents, and the Teachers’ Union.
6) General Information on School Site Planning
The Directorate of Secondary Education (DIDE) informed us that the school districting plan has been designed (and is being adjusted accordingly) to ensure an even distribution of students across schools and to maintain small class sizes in all schools. Specifically regarding the 13th Junior High School of Piraeus and the 1st and 3rd Junior High Schools of Perama, which we discussed as representative examples, he stated that the spatial planning capacity for these schools has been exhausted.
7) Regarding individual evaluation
We asked about the status of the performance evaluation process and requested information regarding the colleagues participating in the strike and work stoppage.
We were provided with the following information: 360 colleagues have not advanced to A1, and 270 colleagues have not advanced to A2, due to delays in the process.
Regarding the strike and work stoppage: 38 colleagues have not advanced to Grade A1, and 47 colleagues have not advanced to Grades A2 and B.
As ELME, we have once again stated the sector’s collective position against individual performance evaluations and that our colleagues are on strike, are participating in the legally declared and currently in effect sector-wide strike and work stoppage, and that ELME will continue to defend them in every way possible.
Colleagues,
We are not satisfied with the responses we have received. We are certain that the data we will receive will point in the same direction. The anti-educational, anti-popular policies being implemented—especially now, during a time of a war economy and the country’s involvement in war—are constantly sacrificing our rights—our very lives.
Our union, our sector, has major battles ahead. We are pressing forward with even greater determination. Our collective struggle through our union—a struggle that will grow ever more widespread, focusing on our current needs— is the path to claiming the kind of schools that we and our students need, and the society we dream of.
ELME PIRAEUS
Mavromichali 14, (3rd High School - 1st floor)
Tel: 2104124810 - Fax: 2103000423
Email: elmepeir@yahoo.gr; elmepeiraia@sch.gr
http://elmepeiraia.oo.gd/w1/
