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🇬🇷 Greece /Energy & Infrastructure

OLME: Thousands of teacher vacancies and infrastructure problems remain

From Kathimerini · () Greek

Translated from Greek and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Greece's secondary teachers' federation says schools began the year with more than 10,000 vacant teaching positions, despite the appointment of 29,948 substitute teachers.
  • OLME President Andreas Kargopoulos estimated 6,000 to 7,000 vacancies in general secondary education alone, citing retirements and permanent appointments.
  • The federation also reported unsafe or inadequate facilities, overcrowded special schools and unresolved student transport contracts in Central Macedonia.

Greece's secondary schools have started the academic year with thousands of teaching positions still unfilled, according to the Federation of Secondary School Teachers (OLME), despite the Education Ministry's announcement that it had appointed 29,948 substitute teachers.

OLME President Andreas Kargopoulos said roughly 46,000 substitute teachers worked last year, while retirements exceeded 5,000. With 30,000 substitutes appointed in the first phase this year, he said the figures point to more than 10,000 vacancies. "Based on these numbers, there are more than 10,000 vacancies," Kargopoulos said at a news conference held at the offices of the Thessaloniki civil servants' union during events linked to the Thessaloniki International Fair.

Based on these numbers, there are more than 10,000 vacancies.

· Andreas KargopoulosThe OLME president estimated the number of unfilled teaching positions at the start of the school year.

He described general secondary education as the clearest example. Last year, 8,200 substitute teachers worked in the sector and 2,588 teachers retired. The state made 910 permanent appointments and hired 4,019 substitutes, leaving an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 vacancies, he said. Kargopoulos added that the previous school year ended with unfilled posts, merged classes and the abolition of classes, practices he called damaging to education.

Last year, about 46,000 substitute teachers worked. Retirements were slightly above 5,000 and 30,000 substitute teachers were hired in the first phase.

· Andreas KargopoulosHe cited staffing figures to support OLME's estimate of the vacancies.

OLME also raised concerns about school buildings. Kargopoulos said schools were not ready and that the national Marietta Giannakou program had covered only 760 schools, focusing on courtyards, accessibility and sanitation rather than structural safety. "We have a huge problem with the two basic factors needed for a school to operate: sufficient staff and safe buildings," he said.

Nik​os Avramidis, president of the First Thessaloniki Secondary Teachers' Association, cited a special school in Agios Athanasios built for 45 students but now serving 110. He also said contracts had not yet been signed to transport 16,500 students in Central Macedonia and pointed to broader equipment and infrastructure problems.

We have a huge problem with the two basic factors needed for a school to operate: sufficient staff and safe buildings.

· Andreas KargopoulosHe described the combined staffing and infrastructure problems facing schools.
About this summary

Originally published by Kathimerini in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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