Thousands of Students and Teachers Rally Across Greece Over Education Funding
Thousands of students and teachers took to the streets across Greece on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, demanding more state money for education, including better school facilities and smaller classes. Greek police said about 10,000 demonstrators, including school and university students, rallied peacefully in central Athens and the capital's suburbs, according to Al Jazeera.
Students held an overnight sit-in near the Greek Parliament before the Athens rally. Protests also took place in Thessaloniki, Patras, Larissa and other cities.
The demonstrations drew several groups with different grievances. Primary and secondary school teachers went on strike over low pay and staff shortages. Substitute teachers want permanent positions and smaller class sizes. Public sector workers and other unions joined the protests.
Students said classes of 25 to 27 pupils are too large and asked for a limit of 15 pupils per class. They also complained about the price of food in high school canteens and the condition of school buildings, including in Athens, Ekathimerini reported. The night before the march, a tent protest over the housing crisis was held in Syntagma Square, the central square facing Parliament. Marchers in Athens called for affordable student housing and more state investment in education, the Associated Press reported.
Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki said the government was spending more than 733 million euros on new student residences and upgrades to facilities. The demonstrations came as a wave of strikes, work stoppages and rallies hit schools and hospitals across the country that day, according to Protothema.
The protests also come amid broader economic pressure. The government has pledged about one billion euros in state subsidies and other benefits to offset higher energy costs for households and businesses, which it linked to the Iran war and inflation. Greece's average monthly salary is 1,500 euros, a level that matches 2009, Al Jazeera reported. Elections are scheduled for mid-2027.
