The Magnesia Association of Secondary State School Teachers (ELME) rejected a Bodossakis Foundation donation to supply all high school science labs in the prefecture.
The teacher unionists called the donation “an effort to commodificate education” and in a statement they call on the education ministry to intervene so that “companies stop entering school premises with the pretext of sponsorship programs.”
In the statement the unionists argue that private company donations should not be allowed to replace the obligations the Greek state has to provide free education. They statement calls on all high school principles in the prefecture to refuse to accept the donation of science lab materials.
The Bodossakis Foundation replied that no donations have been made so far, but the organization has only recorded the needs in science lab supplies for Magnesia high schools because it considers science experiments an important part of secondary school education.
New Democracy chief Mitsotakis slams Magnesia ELME decision
New Democracy president Kyriakos Mitsotakis harshly criticized the Magnesia ELME decision via a social media post, describing the move as displaying a “phobic mentality that wants schools and universities cut off from society.”
The main opposition leader said that private donations should be welcome when they are beneficial to the public interest, “like in all advanced countries across the world.”
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
