High school protests turn violent as students throw gasoline bombs at Greek police

Greek police used tear gas Thursday to disperse violently protesting state high school students who have organised scores of school strikes in response to classroom overcrowding during the coronavirus pandemic.

Brief clashes broke out near the parliament in central Athens after students threw several gasoline bombs at police. Two protesters, aged 17 and 20, were arrested on public disturbance charges. No injuries were reported.

Several hundred people, including state school teachers and college students, took part in the protest which was mostly peaceful.

Hundreds of schools across the country have been closed by sit-in protests carried out by students with the support, in some cases, of teachers’ unions. School protest groups say many classrooms at state-run schools are overcrowded.

The state high school teachers’ union, which endorsed Thursday’s protest, wants classes limited to a maximum 15 children and is asking for more teachers and school cleaners to be hired. The government says the average nationwide class size is 17 children.

Sourced By: Associated Press/The Greek Herald