Greek educational sector announces 24-hour strike for October 21

On Wednesday, October 21, 2026, the Greek education sector will hold a 24-hour nationwide strike to protest systemic issues affecting schools and universities. The mobilization, organized by the Greek Primary School Teachers Federation (DOE) and supported by the Secondary Education Teachers Federation (OLME), aims to address staffing shortages, inadequate infrastructure, and excessive class sizes. Participants, including teachers, students, and parents, are expected to gather in major cities such as Athens at the Propylaea at 12:00, in Thessaloniki at the Statue at 11:30, and in Vathi on Samos at 11:00.

Educational organizations estimate that approximately 15,000 teaching positions remain vacant across the country, leading to lost instruction hours and increased pressure on current staff. While the DOE has called for a full 24-hour strike in primary education, OLME has scheduled work stoppages from 11:00 to 14:00, with local associations authorized to organize additional stoppages starting from 08:00. The demonstrators demand immediate improvements to educational conditions and safer school environments. As the academic year is already underway, stakeholders continue to emphasize the urgency of filling these gaps to restore the functionality of the national education system.