Thursday protest: No room for complacency

Teachers say the upcoming protest is just one step in a broader resistance. In their announcement, they stress that “now is not the time for complacency,” as the government appears to be laying the groundwork for a sweeping attack on job security. This includes reopening the debate on lifting permanent employment protections, introducing a new disciplinary code, and linking performance evaluations to potential dismissals.

According to the teachers, this legislation paves the way for sackings under vague accusations such as “disrespecting the constitution, the homeland or democracy” – charges they believe will be selectively applied to silence dissenters and critics of government policy.

Standing with Palestine

In addition to fighting domestic policy changes, teachers are stepping up their anti-war stance by joining Sunday’s solidarity march for Palestine.

The Socrates Teachers’ Association, under the slogan “We are on the right side of history,” insists that educators cannot remain silent in the face of the ongoing atrocities in Gaza. Even as the school year winds down, they argue that the moral responsibility to speak out remains.

Their statement calls on the education community to support the Palestinian struggle for freedom, condemning not only the actions of the Israeli state but also the political backing it receives from the US, the EU, and the Greek government.

The association strongly denounces the use of starvation as a weapon of war, the deliberate destruction of Palestinian communities, and the killing of civilians and children – calling these crimes that must not go unanswered.

Bringing the Palestinian cause into the classroom

Beyond protests, educators are planning a range of awareness-raising activities with their students, using art and culture to explore the Palestinian issue. These include film screenings, art exhibitions, and book presentations that aim to shed light on the realities of the conflict.

In their words: “We’re organising film screenings, art exhibitions, and presentations of books that explore the Palestinian cause.”

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