To the Greek Ministry of Education

We, the people working in La CGIL Che Vogliamo (Federazione Lavoratori/lavoratrici Conoscenza - CGIL Italia),

support the struggle of the Greek Trade Unions against the merging of 1933 school units, both at primary and secondary level, in the absence of any prior substantial dialogue with the teaching profession and the Greek society.

This decision, which has as a consequence the permanent closure of 1056 primary schools and 205 secondary schools, deals a deadly blow to public education. The consequence of these closures will impact dramatically on the quality of education and will lead to the loss of 3000 teaching positions.

Free and good quality education cannot be the result of mathematical calculations or of savings worked out on paper in ministerial offices: it is one of the basic, fundamental rights of all children, everywhere, and it has to be based on the concern for the well being and the future prospects of all young people.

In Italy we are conducting the same struggle against the cuts of our government, and therefore we believe that the Greek struggle and our struggle are one and the same thing: we are all involved in the building of a strong movement, everywhere in Europe, to fight EU and IFM impositions.

We call on all the Ministries of Education and the Governments to respond with a resolute NO to EU and IFM impositions, to work towards regaining the democratic right of independent decision-making, and to act in accordance with the mandate that comes from the people of their countries: to take decisions which benefit every single individual, including - and especially - those who are most vulnerable.