13-09-16 Filis says that rejection of refugee students does not reflect Greek society

Following the decision of the Board of the Parents and Guardians’ Association of the 5^th Primary School of Oraiokastro, near Thessaloniki, to seek to block the enrolment of refugee children in the school, Education Minister Nikos Filis made the following statement:

“Fortunately, this is very much a minority reaction. It does not express all parents and all children, nor the great majority of parents and children. The programme of the ministry is that young refugee children in the afternoon will attend reception classes to learn Greek and gradually, and through friendly associations, to be integrated into regular classes. But this will be gradual. Also, the state has taken measures along with the Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to administer all necessary vaccinations. Hence, there is no serious justification, only prejudice. Yesterday, with Athens Mayor Kaminis we visited the 132^nd Primary School of Grava, which has 170 students from 17 foreign countries. The teachers said this multicultural coexistence is at no one’s expense. On the contrary, the Greek and foreign children help each other and have good performances from this cooperation in classes.”