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Greek parents accuse special school of ending autistic son's home education
🇬🇷 Greece /Culture & Society

Greek parents accuse special school of ending autistic son's home education

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified In the courts
  • A special needs school in northern Greece allegedly stopped providing home-based education to a 6th-grade autistic student.
  • The student's parents claim the school's director unjustly ended the home-teaching arrangement, which was previously approved, and issued a leaving certificate.
  • The parents have filed a legal complaint against the director for breach of duty, with a court hearing scheduled for May 27.

A family in northern Greece is fighting for their autistic son's education after a special needs school allegedly halted his home-based teaching. The 6th-grader, diagnosed with a severe form of autism, had been receiving home instruction three times a week, a decision unanimously approved by the teaching staff and the secondary education director.

For two years they left him out of education, even though it was unanimously decided by the teaching staff for home-based teaching three times a week. They claim he exhausted all his years for this and gave him a leaving certificate. They craftily gave us a leaving certificate.

— Father of the studentDescribing the school's decision to stop home-based education for his autistic son.

However, the parents allege that the school's new director abruptly stopped these home visits. "They left him out of education for two years, even though it was unanimously decided by the teaching staff for home-based teaching three times a week," stated the boy's father to MEGA. He accused the school of "craftily" issuing a leaving certificate for his son.

The mother recounted the distress caused by the change, explaining that the previous director had supported the home-teaching arrangement. "We had three days of home-based teaching, and on Thursday and Friday, he would go for speech therapy and socialization. Why did the previous director keep him, and this one didn't want children at home?" she questioned.

We had three days of home-based teaching, and on Thursday and Friday, he would go for speech therapy and socialization. Why did the previous director keep him, and this one didn't want children at home? All the home-based ones, she sent the three away and didn't send [our son] here.

— Mother of the studentExplaining the change in educational support and contrasting the actions of the previous and current school directors.

The family has taken legal action against the director, accusing her of dereliction of duty. The father described the emotional toll on his wife, saying she "received 'war' daily" and was often brought to tears by other teachers. The director's lawyer, however, maintains she bears no criminal responsibility. The court case is set to resume on May 27.

My wife received 'war' daily. Because we also went to school twice a week, and every day she was made to cry. Two other teachers also wagged their finger at her.

— Father of the studentDetailing the alleged pressure his wife faced regarding their son's education.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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