Today, Wednesday 23 October, held strike mobilisation in the central Stai Square in Chora Kythera, with the participation of teachers of primary and secondary education of the island. The teachers proceeded to this mobilization by asserting a series of demands concerning both working conditions as well as their the quality of the education provided in the schools of Kythira.
The demands of teachers
The main demands of the protesters are the wage increases, the return of the 13th and 14th salaries and the signing a collective labour agreement for the whole industry. The teachers also call for the equalisation of the rights of substitutes with those of their permanent colleagues, the immediate permanence all deputies and the abolition of evaluation where categorises schools, teachers and pupils. At the same time, they require the filling all vacancies teachers before the beginning of each school year and the a reduction in the number of pupils per class.
Problems with infrastructure and staff
The teachers once again highlighted the chronic problems facing the schools in Kythera, such as the serious shortages of teaching staff. As they pointed out, the shortage of teachers leads to departmental mergers and inability to cover all the courses, which downgrades the level of education.
In a statement, the teacher Vasso Delavaridou, representing the teachers of the A'basima said:
«We are here, in the central square of Chora, to demand the obvious. We demand wage increases, the return of the 13th and 14th salaries, a collective labour agreement that guarantees our rights. Especially for substitutes, we demand the equalisation of our rights with permanent teachers. We reject the evaluation that categorizes schools, teachers and students. Stop the persecution and disciplinary proceedings. We demand immediate tenure for all substitutes. Fill all vacancies and have teachers in place by September 1. We demand a reduction in the number of students per class. Money for education and health. Students should receive the education they are entitled to as third-class children.»
Secondary school teacher Maria Miligaki said:
«It's been a very difficult year this year. We have too many problems, we are facing staff shortages. We don't have colleagues to cover classes, we're not splitting classes as we would like to, as we should by law. Unfortunately, maybe the financial issue is the main reason but we can't take the kids hostage on this one. Children deserve a good education. We want the islands to be inhabited, to be full of life. How can this be done when the level is constantly falling? If something is not done, if we do not understand that the islands did not show up last year, the problems have been there for years and must be addressed with the corresponding legislation. Let's change laws, let's see what can be done to make the system work. We are here, we stand with the teachers and we have these demands too.».
The voice of parents
Parents also participated in the mobilization, who expressed their solidarity with the teachers' struggle.
The president of the Parents and Guardians Association of Kythera High School Myropi Nikolopoulos said:
«The Parents and Guardians Association of Kythera High School is here today, in the square of Chora to express its support for the teachers' struggle. We are demanding the immediate filling of the teacher vacancies at the Kythera High School. We denounce the policies that impoverish teachers and relegate our schools and students to third class status.
We denounce the lies of Mr Pierakakis, who on 20 September boastfully declared that he had sorted out the problem of Kythera within 48 hours by 90%. We inform him that, as we speak, the Kythera High School is missing 10 specialist teachers, basic science subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology, geography and English, gymnastics, music, art and technology are not taught. We will not stop the struggle unless we are vindicated. We want teachers in high school now!».
Need for action and immediate solutions «yesterday»
The situation in the education of Kythera, as pointed out by the participants of the strike, is a an ongoing issue. The lack of infrastructure and the understaffing of schools create a climate of frustration and insecurity for teachers, parents and students alike. Especially on the islands, such as Kythera, where conditions are more demanding, these problems have serious implications quality of life and social cohesion.
Wednesday's strike mobilisation sends a message to the resounding message to the central administration for the need to substantially improve education, but also to support the islands, which are struggling to remain alive and habitable in a difficult economic environment. Required immediate legislative changes and funding that will be able to resolve the issues of education on the remote islands, such as Kythera.
Reporting - camera: AdelinFM & Kythera.News
