The Ministry of Education said it’s going to move to close or merge 13 secondary schools and merge 15 after doing the same to 118 primary and preschools as part of more austerity cuts.
The move came through a ministerial decision that was published at the Government Gazette (the official journal of the Government of Greece which lists all laws passed in a set time period ratified by Cabinet and President), signed by both the Education Minister Constantinos Arvanitopoulos and Alternate Minister of Finance Christos Staikouras.
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has directed the use of decrees so that the Parliament can’t debate the closings or mergings of state institutions demanded by international lenders.
In particular, 11 secondary schools are to be closed in Athens, Ioannina, Larissa, Thessaloniki and Chania and two high schools in Kozani and Chania.
At the same time, 10 secondary schools will merge in Kavala, Xanthi, Athens, Piraeus, Thessaloniki and Serres, while the same will happen to five high schools in Athens and Piraeus.
The government said there would be substantial savings although it will cost an additional 58,200 euros ($669,600) to pay for busing students who had been able to attend schools closer to their homes.
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