Greek secondary students in revolt
By James Vassilopoulos
School occupations, mass demonstrations, mass school assemblies and roadblocks are tactics Greek secondary students have used in their militant campaign against the social democratic PASOK government's attacks on education.
In the national day of action on January 15, 30,000 demonstrators rallied and marched in Athens, the largest demonstration so far. In Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city, at least 5000 protesters marched to the city's court house to protest against prosecutions of protesters.
This was the fourth major national mobilisation in only two months, reflecting militancy and confidence that sustained political action can stop the government's assault on education.
There were also student and teacher demonstrations on November 26, December 9 and December 15 — the same day as a general strike. This series of protests is the largest since 1991.
The national mobilisations are only part of the story. Almost daily for two months, there has been some form of student political action. For example, on December 22 roadblocks obstructed the Athens-Lamia, Thessaloniki-Kavala and Volos-Arta highways, the centre of Thessaloniki and many Athenian intersections.
In the central Greek city of Larissa, the Athens-Thessaloniki highway, joining the country's two biggest cities, was blocked with tractors, desks and burning tyres. Farmer union leader Yiannis Pattakis, who led farmer blockades in 1996, spoke to the students and offered his solidarity.
On December 18, Athenian music students had their turn, protesting with flutes, violins and drums in hand. At the rally they chanted: "We don't care about our marks; you are ruining our future", "It shall not pass" — referring to the government's education bill — and "You should behave, Gerasimos". (Gerasimos Arsenis is the education minister.)
Occupations
The most significant feature has been the occupation of schools by students. By late December, just before the two-week holiday break, 1800 schools of a total of 3534 were being occupied. The occupied schools are used as centres to organise roadblocks, local rallies and community support.
Occupied schools have come under attack from anti-student forces. The Athenian school complex of Gravas was damaged when a Molotov cocktail was thrown at it. Other attacks have occurred in the Peloponnesian city of Patra.
Now, following the end of holidays, OLME, the secondary students teachers' union, estimates that at least 600 schools are occupied, but this number is expected to increase.
Mass student assemblies have been meeting to decide democratically whether schools should be occupied. In the Athenian suburb of New Philadelphia, for example, 606 students from a total of 1200 attended the assembly. Five hundred and seventeen voted to occupy. These assemblies have been meeting across the country.
The student revolt is being coordinated by a national Coordinating Committee of Schools' Struggle (SAS).
This organisation began on November 22 and already has had two national meetings to work out demands and the next stages in the campaign. It includes representatives from 27 cities, 20 Athenian suburbs and the seaside city of Piraeus.
Supporters of left groups like the Greek Communist Youth, the Communist and Ecological Left Renewal (AKOA) and Synaspismos are involved in this campaign.
On December 9 50,000 lyceum (years 7 to 9) students, senior high school (years 10 to 12) students and teachers protested in 44 cities. In Athens an estimated 20,000 protested. They marched but were unable to reach their planned destination of the education ministry because the route was blocked by police.
Bill 2525
Students are protesting against the measures contained in education bill 2525. A major proposal bill is a series of new year 8 and 9 exams to replace the single, nationwide university admission test. Year 8 exams will count for 30% towards university admission.
Under the old system, if students did poorly in the university entrance exam, they still had a number of chances to get into university. Now if lyceum students perform badly in the tests in years 8 and 9, it ruins their future; they have no more chances to get better marks.
According to student leaders, the university system will not be accessible to all students, and neither will the lyceums. The government is reducing places for the 12 years of education.
By the year 2000 the government wants there to be only 80,000 places at lyceums. Currently there are about 125,000 lyceum students.
The more than 40,000 excess will be shifted to the technical colleges. This is likely to mean that students from poorer backgrounds have little chance of getting a university education.
Teachers are also opposed to bill 2525. Teachers oppose the new teacher-hiring system, which abolishes a waiting list based on when a teacher first applied, for one based on "merit". Teachers will also be subject to annual performance reviews.
The secondary students' demands have gone far beyond a defensive demand to stop the education bill. They include:
- no Pan-Hellenic exams for years 8 and 9 in the lyceums;
- 12 years of free public education in knowledge that will equip students for life;
- free textbooks, and specialist and foreign language studies;
- 15% of government spending on education; and
- democracy within schools, no punishment for student protesters and single national student elections.
The government has ruled out any significant concessions but has made some small concessions to current year 8 and 9 students, suggesting that they can make up some exams they missed because of protests.
On December 24 a spokesperson of the SAS, Gavrilos Tsarkadoglou, said: "We will not negotiate our future away. We know that the government has been hurt politically by our struggle, and we won't accept small and vapid concessions."
PASOK has ordered prosecutors to investigate charges against students occupying schools. At this stage few arrests have been made. The government is also threatening students who protest with failure of courses.
Uncompromising mood
A poll conducted by the agency V-PRC of participants at the December 9 rally revealed a militant and uncompromising mood amongst the majority of students. Sixty per cent wanted to continue their actions until the education bill is completely abandoned by the government.
The poll also revealed that 65% of the students are confident of winning their demands.
Underlying the protests is a feeling among many young people feel that they have little future within a capitalist system that increasingly denies them jobs, education and a reasonable standard of living. Seventy per cent of students at the December 9 rally said that they felt pessimistic about the future.
The protests also highlight the difficulty PASOK has in implementing its austerity measures so that Greece can satisfy the criteria for entry into the European monetary union.
In a poll published in the newspaper Ta Nea late last year, only 57% of respondents indicated that they would vote for one of the two major parties, the conservative New Democracy party obtaining 31.8% and the governing PASOK 25.3%.
On December 15 there was a 24-hour general strike protesting against austerity measures contained in the government's budget. The strike was organised by the General Confederation of Greek Workers, the Civil Servants' Supreme Administrative Council and public utilities workers. Wharfies, seafarers, airline workers, custom workers and bus drivers all struck.
On January 15 farmers also set up roadblocks in Larissa, to protest against the government's agricultural policies, which they say are as destructive as its education policies.
The SAS is planning another national meeting on January 24 to discuss the next steps in the campaign. OLME plans to hold 24-hour strikes on January 21 and 24, in solidarity with the students.