Greek expatriates are preparing massive protests over the Greek government’s decision to halt Greek language schools from operating abroad from next summer. Diaspora Greeks around the world fear that thousands of young Greeks will lose contact with their mother-tongue and the Greek culture.
Greek communities from around the world and people working to promote Greece abroad have publicly denounced this measure taken by the government of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, who is readying a package of $14.6 billion in spending cuts ordered by international lenders.
In Germany, where monolingual Greek schools follow the curriculum set by the Greek government, uncertainty is growing stronger. Greek high schools are scheduled to operate for one more year, while some teachers have been forced to quit their jobs after cuts imposed on their salaries as part of Greek government austerity measures.
In Australia, Yiannis Milidis, Principal of afternoon schools of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne, said the Greek state has been sending seconded teachers to Australia in areas with large numbers of Greek students so that they have the chance to learn the Greek language.
“In Melbourne, afternoon schools have currently 950 pupils and 50 teachers, two of whom are seconded. We have been recently informed that Greek is planning on withdrawing seconded teachers, which will inevitably affect us too. It is not only a matter of finances. The community here will suffer the pressure because now it will have to pay two extra salaries to cover the empty positions. We certainly prefer having native Greek teachers who know and speak Greek fluently because they can teach the language to our children better than anyone else,” he said.
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