Loverdos accuses SYRIZA over high school sit-ins

Education Minister Andreas Loverdos (photo) accused SYRIZA on Wednesday of encouraging students to stage sit-ins at dozens of public high schools around Greece to protest education reforms.

Loverdos cited a statement by the opposition party’s youth wing that praised the pupils for standing up to the government’s reforms, which include limiting the course material at senior high schools.

“We do not oppose protests, which are a right, but we will not allow teaching hours to be lost,” said Loverdos.

More than 500 senior high schools failed to open at the beginning of the week due to the sit-ins. It is expected that some schools will reopen Thursday after the teachers’ union held its elections on Wednesday.