Greek teachers protest new school excursion regulations

The Teachers' Federation of Greece (DOE) has called for a freeze on school excursions involving bus transportation following new regulations issued by the Ministry of Education. The federation is urging teaching associations to limit activities to walking tours and pedagogical actions that do not require vehicle transport until their demands are met.

Teachers argue that the new institutional framework imposes an unprecedented administrative and bureaucratic burden on educators. A primary concern is the shift of liability; the federation claims teachers are being forced to take responsibility for matters outside their expertise, such as vehicle safety inspections and transport provider compliance. They assert that teachers should not act as vehicle inspectors and are demanding full legal protection that limits their role strictly to pedagogical and instructional duties.

Additionally, the federation is calling for the creation of a central registry of certified transporters to prevent schools from having to vet transport companies and drivers themselves. They also criticized the lack of support for economically disadvantaged families, noting that the state should ensure free transportation for all children.