Tomorrow, the first bell will ring for thousands of elementary school students.
The new school year begins with significant changes and new developments, but also with several unresolved issues.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
There are still some small staffing gaps in schools, which are being filled with temporary replacements until permanent positions are filled. In this regard, POED expresses concern.
“The first call for applications to fill replacement positions confirms the serious lack of interest that we have highlighted. Administrative positions remain understaffed, with large kindergartens being run by regular kindergarten teachers, who are expected to shoulder an additional administrative burden.”
Myria Vassiliou – President of POED
“What we requested during a meeting with the minister was for the staffing of all-day programs to be expedited, rather than waiting for schools to open so that teachers can submit their applications, so that they can start at the same time as the schools.”
Giannos Ioannou – President of the Organization of Parents of Elementary School Students
In many classrooms, classes will begin without air conditioning and without textbooks for certain subjects, which are expected to be received in October. To ensure that classes can proceed without interruption until then, the Ministry of Education has made the necessary arrangements by printing a portion of the affected publications.
Temporary Structures and Construction Sites
This year, too, there will be construction sites at several schools, and in many cases, classes will continue to be held in portable classrooms.
“This isn’t happening at schools that, under normal circumstances, should have 250 students but have 470 this year, requiring the installation of five portable classrooms, and take up a significant portion of the school’s playground.”
Giannos Ioannou – President of the Organized Parents’ Association for Elementary Education
“We finally need long-term planning when it comes to portable classrooms. Public schools cannot operate with stopgap measures.”
Myra Vassiliou – President of POED
More than 52,000 students will attend elementary schools this year, 8,919 of whom are first-graders. A total of 14,398 children will attend preschool.
Watch the report by Rafaella Stavrinou:
