Achaia school mergers spark controversy in Greece

Decisions to merge or abolish 22 class sections across 20 primary schools in the Achaia region of Greece have sparked significant controversy among educators, parents, and local officials just days before the new school year begins.

The restructuring affects 15 schools in the Municipality of Patras, four schools in the Municipality of Aigialeia, and a school in Kalavryta. Critics argue that the sudden reversal of previous planning—which had been approved in July—will create overcrowded classrooms of up to 25 students, potentially undermining the quality of education.

A major concern raised by Tasos Stavrogiannopoulos, the elected member of the PYSPE (Local Council for Primary Education) of Achaia, is the impact on students with special educational needs and disabilities. Previously, these students benefited from smaller, specialized sections designed to provide essential support. The new decision to consolidate these sections is viewed as a move driven by fiscal cost-cutting rather than pedagogical necessity.

Local stakeholders report that the decision has caused job insecurity for teachers and anxiety for families. There are calls for the Ministry of Education to intervene and reinstate the original programming to ensure the smooth start of the academic year and to protect the educational rights of the children involved.