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Greece’s Teachers Strike Against Privatization of Higher Education
The Greek Primary Teachers’ Federation and the Federation of Secondary School Teachers of Greece will be participating this week in a “Pan-Hellenic strike,” called by the National Workers’ Union of Greece (ADEDY), to protest against the privatization of the country’s higher education institutions.
The government is planning to revise Article 16 of the Constitution concerning the establishment of private universities. Private higher education institutions are banned from operating in Greece, a law which the present conservative government wants changed to “help boost educational standards and competitiveness.”
This plan is now being challenged by all teacher unions and student bodies, as well as public employees, who say that such a move will lead to the increase of education costs for the poor and the lowering of education standards. The unions are also striking to ensure that public employees’ permanent employment status is not changed.
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