Attica school shortages: Teacher vacancies and transport issues

Educational challenges are mounting in the Attica region of Greece, affecting both classroom instruction and student transportation. At the 1st Gymnasium of Rafina, parents have reported that 47 teaching hours are lost every week due to significant shortages in teaching staff. These vacancies primarily affect humanities, but also impact religious studies, physics, and chemistry. Parents have expressed concern that these gaps prevent the completion of the curriculum and increase the financial burden on families who may seek private tutoring.

Simultaneously, East Attica is facing a crisis in school transportation. Nearly one in five school routes remains unassigned due to a lack of contractors. This issue has been exacerbated by changes in the regional transport system and the establishment of model schools, which have increased the distance students must travel. Regional Governor Nikos Hardalias noted that while there were 103 unassigned routes earlier in 2024, the demand has surged to 609 unassigned routes as of late October, representing a 36.5% increase in transport needs.