Union of Parents & Guardians Associations: “Too far from the actual needs”

On Friday 16 September, members of the Union of Parents & Guardians Associations Board met with the Central Corfu Mayor, the Primary and Secondary Education Directors, the Regional Education Director, the Presidents of the two School Committees and the MPs of our prefecture.
 
Announcement from the Corfu Union of Parents & Guardians Associations:
 
We raised specific issues, such as the school roof that is dripping water, the problem of pupils' transportation who were not able to go to school the first week that they opened and the lack of infrastructure for their proper and smooth operation.
 
We raised the issue of school cleanliness, especially in pandemic conditions, and the huge problem of the lack of housing for the substitute teachers who are coming to Corfu to work.
 
As much as they try to make things look better, reality is different. Although some necessary maintenance and repair work has been carried out in some schools, they do not solve the problem of the lack of school housing. On the contrary, they maintain a situation with old school infrastructure. The needs on our island are much greater. As parents, we are concerned about the stability and suitability of old buildings, which we have proposed that the responsible state authorities should check, especially in an earthquake-prone area such as ours.
 
We are expressing for the umpteenth time our frustration about the nurseries that are being accommodated in prefab buildings and will stay there for at least 5 more years under the current legislation, which the Municipality is implementing, if new schools are not found or built.
 
The Municipality claims that it is a solution of necessity. But we are asking: What need are they serving? Certainly not the needs of the children and teachers. The need for modern and safe schools cannot be covered by stacking 4 and 5 year olds in prefabs.
 
We are also very concerned about schools located on roads with very heavy traffic and asked for permanent school traffic officers with full insurance and employment rights, but we did not receive any particular commitment.
 
We were informed that three proposed plots of land for the Alepou Primary School and one plot of land in Kanalia have been found, in which the owner will build a school, which the Municipality will then lease from them!
 
As for the 3rd and 4th Junior High Schools, the answer we got is that the problem will be solved with the transfer of the prison! For the Phaeaces Junior High School we were informed that the land and building of the old veterinary clinic is a good place. However, it belongs to TAIPED and the procedures are difficult and slow!
 
The government, the Ministry of Education, the Region and the Municipalities are attempting to make changes to both the form and content of the school which is affecting the future of our children.
 
The underfunding of education is a political choice to save the state money. The changes, restructuring and interventions are too far away from our needs.
 
We are totally opposed to the school-business looking for sponsors and alternative forms of funding and the categorisation of schools and our children.
 
As a Union we are calling on parents not to compromise with this situation. They should not accept to pay anything (they have already paid for it in taxes) that the state is responsible for. To demand, with their participation through associations, exclusive public and free education for all, in modern and safe schools, with a public school transport network with permanent staff.
 
We demand modern safe schools for all pupils, schools that are equal to the 21st century!
 
We are calling everyone on Wednesday at 11:00 to protest at the Ionian Islands Region on the critical issue of the transportation of pupils.