27-07-16  Filis, Kaminis discuss refugee education, school meals, university housing

The open school programme for refugee children, school meals and the prospect of housing students in empty Athens inner city apartments topped the agenda of talks today between Athens Mayor Yorgos Kaminis and Education, Research and Religious Affairs Minister Nikos Filis, at Athens’ City Hall.

Filis stressed the importance of close cooperation between his ministry and municipalities in order to solve looming problems and improve the operation of schools.

Filis said authorities must be ready for a smooth commencement of the academic year on the very first day of classes, for the first time. Books and teaching staff shortages have often plagued the start of the school year in the past. Filis said schools have already received all textbooks and that the necessary teaching staff will be in place. He stressed the close cooperation with Kaminis on refugee education programmes, with the creation of “open schools”. Such schools will be established in neighbourhoods nationwide

“The ministry is ready to enroll thousands of refugee students in schools in September.  At first, this will entail creating reception classes, leading gradually to full integration in the regular school system. A special Education Ministry committee will soon announce specifics of the programme, which includes hiring 800 substitute teachers to serve the needs of refugees, at first mainly learning Greek as a second language. There are efforts to hire Arabic and Farsi-speaking teachers.

Filis said that the ministries of education and social solidarity will provide 30,000 hot meals daily in Athens schools.

Filis also mentioned the idea of housing university students in empty central Athens apartments, thereby solving the financial strain on many families and contributing to the revival of Athens neighbourhoods.

Kaminis stressed the huge challenge of integrating the 22,000 children of refugees currently in Greece, many of whom reside in Athens.

Kaminis stressed his pet project of subsiding housing for university students in available apartments in the centre of Athens, such as Kypseli, Fokionos Negri, and Victorias Square, so as to attract a youthful element to neighbourhoods that face major problems.