Hüseyin Zeybek seeks legal clarity over minority school enrolment rules

İskeçe (Xanthi) MP Hüseyin Zeybek has submitted a new parliamentary question challenging the Greek Education Ministry's response over the refusal to enrol two students at the İskeçe (Xanthi) 1st Minority Primary School.

Zeybek said the ministry had failed to directly answer the specific legal questions raised in his previous parliamentary inquiry and instead referred him to a general statement issued by the Regional Directorate of Education of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

The new inquiry seeks clarification on the legal criteria governing enrolment in minority schools, particularly in cases where one of a child's parents is not a member of the minority or is a foreign national.

QUESTIONS OVER THE LEGAL BASIS FOR THE REFUSAL

Zeybek had initially raised the issue through parliamentary question No. 6413 on June 23, 2026. According to the MP, the ministry's response dated September 21 did not address his specific questions concerning the two students.

The regional education authority's statement reportedly said that documents submitted during the enrolment process had been deemed “unlawful.” Zeybek is now asking which documents were considered unlawful, which legal provisions formed the basis for that assessment and which competent authority carried out the review.

He is also seeking clarification on the legal basis for refusing the two students admission to the first grade of the minority primary school.

FOCUS ON PARENTAL STATUS AND CITIZENSHIP

The new parliamentary question asks whether a Greek citizen child who is a member of the minority can enrol in a minority school if one of the parents is a foreign national or is not a member of the minority.

Zeybek is asking the ministry to identify the legislation, ministerial decisions, circulars and administrative instructions currently governing such cases.

The MP also wants the government to clarify whether eligibility is determined by the child's legal status, the status of one or both parents, or the parents' citizenship.

15 QUESTIONS SUBMITTED TO THE EDUCATION MINISTRY

Zeybek's new inquiry contains 15 questions. Among other requests, he is asking the ministry to submit to Parliament the documents supporting the decision not to enrol the two students, including any inspection reports, decisions or other administrative records concerning the documents submitted during registration.

He is also requesting copies of relevant correspondence, instructions, circulars, internal notes, electronic communications and legal opinions prepared in connection with the case.

CALL FOR CLEARER RULES

Zeybek argues that the issue extends beyond the two students because similar enrolment disputes could arise in future school years.

He has therefore asked whether the Education Ministry intends to issue clear written instructions to all competent education authorities so that families can determine in advance which legal rules apply to enrolment in minority schools.

The MP is also asking why the specific questions in his June parliamentary inquiry were not answered and is requesting direct responses to each of them in the latest submission.

The new parliamentary inquiry does not itself establish the legal status of the two students or determine whether the enrolment decision was lawful. It seeks clarification from the Greek authorities on the legal framework and administrative basis for the decision.