Students in Greece are protesting against their return to classrooms in the centre of Thessaloniki on Wednesday morning (September 23).

Banners are shown that bore the slogans: "We have a voice under the mask - Education and health for every student," and, "the mask is not the only protection - Give money for education."

Students are campaigning to limit the number of pupils in a classroom to 15 and for permanent cleaning staff to be hired.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis sent teachers and pupils back to classrooms on September 14 despite COVID-related resistance.

Students occupy schools across Greece and protest for unsafe return to classrooms - Students in the center of Thessaloniki held a march on Wednesday morning in protest of the problems in schools that have arisen due to the coronavirus pandemic, at a time when more than 40 schools throughout the prefecture are under occupation. Whether under occupation or not, after initially gathering at the statue of Venizelos, started marching in the main streets of the city, with a central banner that bore the slogan: "We have a voice under the mask - Education and health for every student " and "The mask is not the only protection - Give money for education".

High school students in several cities on the Greek mainland and islands began occupying schools last week to protest the unsafe return to classrooms. On Monday, dozens of schools nationally joined the protests; by Tuesday, more than 100 schools were being occupied nationally. Despite the resurgence of the virus in Greece this summer—fueled by the homicidal decision to let the tourist season proceed—Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ right-wing New Democracy government sent teachers and pupils back to classrooms on September 14. Over 557,516 high school students and 64,000 permanent secondary school teachers, a large part of Greece’s 10 million population, are in danger.

Within one week, this disastrous policy has let COVID-19 rip through the school system, leading to the closure of at least 59 schools. To suspend the operation of a school, at least three cases of coronavirus—of people not directly related to each other—must be identified. This is contributing to a surge in coronavirus cases nationally, with 453 new coronavirus cases announced Monday and six deaths. The demands of students occupying schools include limiting classroom groups to at most 15 students; for immediately hiring more teachers to fill the gaps; that permanent cleaning staff be hired; and that cameras not be installed in schools for e-learning, as proposed by the government.