There is turmoil in the education sector over the new teacher appointment system, with teachers’ organizations announcing a protest outside the Presidential Palace on October 8.
Representatives of the teachers’ organizations highlighted the Ministry’s delay.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Speaking on the Alpha Kalimera show, OELMEK President Konstantinos Konstantinou expressed his frustration over the failure to meet deadlines.
“It was supposed to be submitted to Parliament in May, then it was pushed back to September, and then the minister said by the end of the year—I doubt the bill will ever be submitted. We don’t even have a draft yet.”
He explained that both the draft working document submitted by the minister in July and her statements “indicate that she is not safeguarding the interests of educators, that is, our colleagues who are either permanent employees, contract workers, or substitutes and have been working in our schools for many years.
Speaking on the Alpha News program, Ms. Myria Vassiliou of POED emphasized that “the reaction stems, on the one hand, from the fact that the Ministry is stalling. And on the other hand, it is because what it intends to submit is a plan, a regulation, that will cause further distortions. It will result in people being laid off, with or without notice.”
Noting that they’ve been waiting for this proposal for two years now.
The “Thorns”
OLTEK President Panagiotis Lysandrou, speaking on the Alpha News program, emphasized that the mobilization is aimed at safeguarding the jobs of a large percentage of teachers, many of whom may lose their jobs.
“The main sticking point—in fact, the most important issue—is that there are many colleagues who are either permanent or contract employees. They have left their previous jobs and come to work in public schools,”
These are individuals who were on the list of candidates for appointment—a list that was supposed to lead to permanent positions at some point—with Mr. Lysandrou noting that many feel they have been deceived.
On behalf of POED, Myria Vasiliou emphasized that “we are not asking for the exams to be abolished. We are asking that the exams remain in place, that the distortions be corrected, and at the same time, that the list of appointees not be abolished, because it has been confirmed that this is what supports public schools.”
He added that “what we’re saying is that this amendment, on the one hand, must not leave all those people who came forward to help public schools in the lurch.”
There are also “voices” speaking out against the proposed closed registry, which will include contract teachers and substitutes.
“By opting for a closed registry that only allows for three-year appointments—and then it’s over—you can see that this does not guarantee the rights of our teachers,” said Ms. Vassiliou, adding that this specific proposal provides for a “single list of candidates eligible for permanent appointment, which will include both those who have already taken the exams and those who will take them under the new system. And this leaves open the possibility of injustices,”
The President of OLTEK emphasized that “we are in favor of the exams. We are in favor of there being only one list once this transitional period ends, and for the exams to be placement exams or some other form that ensures there will be enough teachers to staff the school.”
How does the Ministry respond?
Speaking on the Alpha News program, Deputy Director of Secondary General Education Giorgos Koutsidis responded to criticism regarding delays, explaining that there is a lengthy process that must be followed.
“Over the past 4–5 months, we’ve had a series of meetings with all three labor unions. An initial draft was provided. We received some feedback and comments. We are currently in the process of preparing a more final proposal, which will be presented to the three labor unions in the very near future.”
As for the closed registry—for which organizations are requesting that it be made permanent—Mr. Koutsidis responded, “This is not a matter for the Ministry. It is a legal matter. And, in fact, as a Ministry, we cannot bypass it.”
He also clarified that the proposal is not final, while expressing the hope that the unions will receive the proposal immediately so they can take a position on it
“What we’re asking for today and working toward is how this transition will take place—that is, from the lists of those to be appointed to the lists of those eligible for appointment—and what the fairest way to do this will be. In other words, how can we proceed with this process—this transition—without doing an injustice to any teacher who is currently working in schools?”
