Η educational community faces serious challenges, in particular in island and mountain areas of our country, where living difficulties and punctuality are often an obstacle for substitute and newly appointed teachers. In this context, many municipalities are taking initiatives to support them by offering financial incentives and facilities, in order to attract and retain the necessary teaching staff in their regions.
A typical example is the Municipalities Spetses, Hydra and Oinoussea. Ο Municipality of Hydra provides a monthly rent allowance of EUR 200 per month to secondary school teachers, recognising the difficulties they face, while the Municipality of Spetses allocates the same amount for the feeding of substitute teachers. Correspondingly, in Oinousses, the Municipality supports with a 600 euro per semester allowance the substitute teachers who work on the island, expressing his gratitude for the important work they do in a hard-to-reach area.
Η legislation provides the opportunity for island and mountainous municipalities support their substitute teachers with benefits such as food and accommodation. According to the article 32 of law 4483/2017 (see at the end of the article), municipalities with a population of up to 30.000 inhabitants and the island municipalities can offer free accommodation and meals to substitute teachers, which is already being implemented in many regions. In addition, there is a request for extension of the measure to newly appointed teachers, to ensure equal treatment and facilities for all those serving in remote areas of the country.
Unlike other regions that offer support to teachers, in the Kythera the shortages of teaching staff and the difficulties remain acute. The mobilisations by pupils, parents and local authorities, which have been repeatedly documented, highlight the need for direct interventions. Ο Municipality of Kythira could follow the example of the above-mentioned municipalities, providing incentives to teachers in order to attract staff and fill the gaps in the schools of the island.
When local authorities actively support teachers, the result is not only the improving living conditions of teachers and professors, but also the enhancing the quality of education and of learning experience of the children. Η recognition of the important work of teachers and their practical support are steps in the right direction for the maintaining sustainability of remote areas and the progress of society our total.
Η value of the measure of this is important, as it not only recognises the difficulties faced by teachers in remote areas, but also enhances equality of opportunity in education, ensuring that pupils in island and mountain communities have access to properly staffed schools.
The law provides for the extension of these benefits and other groups of workers, such as the medical and nursing staff of health centres and public hospitals, the security bodies (Police, Coast Guard, Fire Brigade), as well as the staff of local authorities. Supporting these critical professional groups reinforces social cohesion and ensures the quality of the services provided, contributing substantially to the improving living conditions in remote areas such as Kythera.
It is time to do something in Kythera too. Let us follow the path that other island and mountain regions have taken. We have the tools and the money. Let's take the initiative to empower the people who keep the heart of our local community alive and let's form a a future full of opportunities for our children and our island.
Article 32 - Law 4483/2017
Incentives for workers from local authorities in mountain and island regions
1. The mountain municipalities of article 1 of Law No. 3852/2010 (A'87), the municipalities with a population of up to 30,000 inhabitants, of which at least fifty percent (50%) of the municipal or communal units are characterized as mountainous in the Register of Municipalities, Communities and Settlements of ELSTAT, the island municipalities with a population of less than 18,000 inhabitants, as well as the N.P.D.D. of these municipalities, may provide free food and suitable accommodation to the doctors and nurses of the Health Centre and public hospitals, the staff of the Greek Police, the Coast Guard, the Fire Service, the Hellenic Fire Brigade, the Hellenic Coast Guard and substitute teachers. The population is calculated according to the actual population data of the last ELSTAT census.
2. For the above benefits, a decision is taken by the relevant Municipal or Administrative Council, which specifies the benefits in each case and the period of validity of these benefits, following confirmation of the existence of appropriate resources from the financial department of the O.T.A.
3. The above does not apply to residents of these areas or their spouses or minor children who have full ownership or usufruct of a dwelling in the area of service.
4. The benefits referred to in paragraph 1 may be granted under the same conditions by island municipalities with a population of more than 18,000 inhabitants, provided that they concern exclusively employees serving on autonomous islands that constitute local communities of such municipalities.
5. A joint decision of the Ministers of Interior and Finance shall establish a system for monitoring the financial results of the implementation of this Article.
That's useful.
I fear, however, that the people of our island have also made money their god.
There was information about a landlord who refused (recently) to rent to a teacher because he wanted to bring his family, with his children still young, to live together. That's what they say he said.
I haven't cross checked it yet and I hope it's a lie !