Many wait years for a tenured post
Physics teachers who have not passed the ASEP exams must wait, on average, until they are 41 for a permanent appointment, depending on the years they have put in as substitute teachers. The situation is much the same for teachers of other subjects, such as mathematics and language and literature. Statistics from PEA (based on appointments made for the current school year) show that mathematics teachers are appointed on average by the age of 40, while language and literature teachers are slightly better off, being appointed on average by the age of 36. By then they have served as many as eight years as substitutes. However, the duration of substitute teachers’ contracts corresponds to and does not exceed that of the school year, which leaves many teachers without an income during the summer. Not a radical solution This happens despite the fact that the Education Ministry has increased the proportion of permanent appointments from 25 to 40 percent, and has also permanently appointed more teachers who were on 30-month contracts. However, PEA claims that these measures do not amount to a radical solution of the problem. «The Education Ministry should immediately divide the number of appointments equally between the ASEP and the Uniform List regardless of percentages, and at the next round of appointments make permanent all teachers with 30 months’ previous employment, thus speeding up absorption of teachers who are on contracts or paid by the hour. It should also institute a similar procedure for all those remaining on the Uniform List,» Vryonis told Kathimerini. «Besides,» he added, «making more substitute teachers permanent will not be a major burden on the state budget as in any case they are working as substitutes and there is little difference to the state between a substitute and a permanent teacher.» The PEA is also concerned about the announcement that, as of the 2006-2007 school year, 20 percent of appointments will be reserved for teachers with three or more children. The union wants a discussion to find a solution that is satisfactory to all teachers.
