Education rally: about 10,000 in Athens — all metro stations open
Police estimated about 10,000 participants in Athens and its suburbs, Reuters reported. The Athens rally was peaceful and all Metro stations are operating.
Updated 21.10.2026 · 17:04, Athens time — What changed:
About 10,000 school pupils, university students and teachers joined rallies in Athens and its suburbs, according to a police estimate reported by Reuters. The Athens demonstration was peaceful, while rallies were also held in other cities.
Participants and unions raised demands concerning public-education funding, facilities, classroom size, pay and housing costs. These are the positions and demands of demonstrators and trade unions, not decisions already adopted by the government.
STASY has announced that Panepistimio station has reopened and that all Athens Metro stations are open. The situation on the Thessaloniki Metro remains a separate active restriction.
Earlier update — station reopening
Updated 21.10.2026 · 15:55, Athens time — What changed:
STASY announced that Panepistimio metro station has reopened on police instructions. The same official update says that all stations on the Athens Metro network are now open.
The reopening concerns the temporary restriction imposed earlier the same day for the education rally. It does not concern the five closed Thessaloniki Metro stations, which remain a separate active restriction.
Earlier update — temporary closure
Updated 21.10.2026 · 11:04, Athens time — What changed:
STASY says Panepistimio metro station is closed on Hellenic Police orders. Trains are passing through without stopping. The official notice does not provide a reopening time.
The change is linked to the education rally at Propylaia scheduled for 12:00. ERT reports that the closure applies from 10:00. DOE's 24-hour strike and OLME's 11:00–14:00 work stoppage remain as previously announced.
Original report
Greece’s two teachers’ federations are calling industrial action on Wednesday 21 October 2026, but with different arrangements: DOE calls a 24-hour strike and OLME a work stoppage. These are union decisions, not a government order closing all schools.
Primary education: a 24-hour strike
The Greek Primary Teachers’ Federation (DOE), in its announcement dated 14 October, calls primary and kindergarten teachers to a 24-hour strike on 21 October. It sets rallies at Athens’ Propylaia at 12:00 and Thessaloniki’s Venizelos statue at 11:30, as well as local demonstrations in other cities.
Secondary education: a stoppage from 11:00 to 14:00
The Federation of Secondary Education State School Teachers (OLME), in its decision dated 13 October, declares a work stoppage from 11:00 to 14:00. It calls on local ELME unions to declare an additional stoppage from 08:00 to 11:00. This request does not establish that every local union has already adopted that decision. OLME also calls members to the Propylaia rally at 12:00 and demonstrations outside Athens.
What families should know
Each school’s operation will depend on teachers’ participation. Parents should obtain the specific arrangements from their school; the announcements do not establish that all schools will be closed.
The federations raise demands over pay, funding, staffing and school safety, and oppose the evaluation and disciplinary framework. These are union positions and demands, not newly enacted measures.
English translation of the Greek edition · Read in Greek