Regional Education Directorate makes controversial statement: “The Treaty of Lausanne does not cover secondary education”
The ongoing dispute over the Gümülcine Minority Middle and High School has escalated following a statement issued by the Eastern Macedonia–Thrace Regional Education Directorate on October 6, 2025.
The controversy began when members of the school’s governing committee were denied entry to the school premises after the summer break. The Directorate’s latest statement — signed by Acting Regional Education Director Marigoula Kosmidou — claimed that secondary education institutions are not covered under the Treaty of Lausanne, sparking outrage among the Western Thrace Turkish Minority.
“Lausanne Does Not Include Middle and High Schools”
In its statement, the Directorate argued that the Gümülcine Minority Middle and High School was established as a voluntary initiative by the Greek state, not as an obligation stemming from international treaties. The statement asserted:
“The Treaty of Lausanne covers only primary education and does not foresee the operation of minority middle or high schools.”
The Directorate accused the school’s governing committee of “ignorance or deliberate distortion of the law” and described its insistence on entering the school as an “unlawful and senseless persistence.”
The statement further claimed that the state had granted the school building free of charge, while the committee had failed to maintain or repair the historic structure, allegedly allowing problems to worsen for political purposes. It accused the committee of “instrumentalizing the situation” and neglecting students’ needs.
Dispute Over Ownership and Authority
The Directorate cited Law 4563/2018, which it said changed the school’s legal status, eliminating any official ownership or founding rights of the committee. Therefore, the statement continued, no group or individual outside of teachers and students has a legal right to remain on school property.
It added that the committee’s authority is limited to financial and operational matters, without any administrative or educational decision-making power.
“The Gümülcine Minority Middle and High School Committee is trying to act as if it owns the building, using funds and facilities provided by the state,” the statement claimed.
“Lausanne Spirit Violated”
The statement concluded with a reference to the school’s renovation and a visit by Education Minister Sofia Zaharaki, noting that “the smiles of students and teachers during the visit were a surprise to those who doubted the state’s commitment.”
The Directorate’s tone and claims have drawn sharp criticism from the Western Thrace Turkish Minority, who view the statement as a violation of the spirit of the Treaty of Lausanne and an attempt to undermine minority education rights.
Community leaders have expressed disappointment and concern, warning that the statement could further strain minority–state relations in the region.
