Lack of funds means severe teacher shortages at schools
The new academic year will begin in September with shortages at Greek schools, Education Ministry sources admitted to Kathimerini on Thursday.
The shortages will be due to no permanent hirings having been made and only a few substitute teachers being taken on.
It is estimated that there are between 24,000 and 26,000 vacant teaching positions at Greece’s schools but that the funds available from the European Union-subsidized National Strategic Reference Framework, also known as ESPA, will only stretch to filling about 12,000 of these.
So far, no money has been allocated from the national budget for hirings at schools. However, Education Ministry sources believe some funds will be made available – at least to ensure that primary schools have enough teachers. The ministry expects to have a clearer picture about hirings and shortages at the beginning of September.
