Before George Papandreou’s Socialist government goes ahead and spends additional money from the state budget to hire more teachers and nurses, it should first take a good look at the status of personel recruited over the past 10 years in the respective sectors.

Such a review is imperative, particularly in light of the fiscal crisis that demands extensive measures to trim the fiscal deficit.

Once the Socialist administration has conducted a serious review, it should use all legal means to revoke the transfers – whether temporary or otherwise – of staff to other departments and services, a phenomenon which is currently depriving Greek citizens of both educational and hospital staff.

The government must then close the legal loopholes that have allowed this completely unacceptable situation to come about and continue for so long.

Otherwise, simply hiring more teachers and nurses will do nothing but put a further strain on the budget.