Another ban on minority schools

Officials from the Rhodopi Teachers' Association and the Greek Teachers' Federation (DOE) were denied entry to minority schools in Western Thrace, sparking backlash from educators and union representatives.

Teachers' Union Condemns the Decision
The Rhodopi Primary School Teachers' Association strongly condemned the restriction, calling it an "authoritarian, arbitrary, and illegal act." In a statement, they criticized the Regional Directorate of Education, describing the decision as "another step in its undemocratic downward spiral."

Selective Restrictions on School Visits
According to reports from ERT and Paratiritis, on February 19, representatives from DOE and the Rhodopi Teachers' Association attempted to visit schools in the region. While they were allowed to visit state schools without any issues, they were prevented from entering minority schools—despite school principals being verbally and formally informed in advance.

The order to block the visits was reportedly given orally, without any written justification. The Ministry of Education allegedly cited "special regulations" for minority schools, claiming that access required explicit approval from the ministry.

Teachers' Union Challenges Legality of the Ban
Following their own investigation, the teachers' association found no legal basis for the directive. Their statement emphasized that:

• The restriction was arbitrary because it lacked legal justification.
• The Education Director had no authority to approve or deny union visits to schools.
• For over 30 years, teachers’ unions have conducted visits to minority schools without any such restrictions.
• The decision was authoritarian, as it mirrored repressive tactics from dark periods of history, aiming to intimidate educators.

Government Crackdown on Union Rights?
The statement also linked the decision to broader policies under the ruling New Democracy (ND) government, accusing it of curbing union freedoms and eroding workers' rights through anti-labor laws.

This unprecedented move has fueled concerns about government interference in minority education and raised questions about the status of teachers' unions in Greece.