



The Parents and Guardians Association of the 2nd Primary School of Philippiada, northern Greece, have expressed their objections to the refugee integration program at their children’s school. The objections come just a week following similar complaints by the parents of two schools in the region of Oreokoastro.

The parents have submitted numerous reasons explaining why they do not want refugees to occupy the school grounds after lessons end for their children.

Medical concerns: They come from another country with a different gamut of medical conditions and are not vaccinated according to the national plan. Reports of new illnesses that have returned after decades are due to the arrival of the refugees and migrants and many of these are contagious.

Educational reasons: Migrant and refugee children cannot be integrated with Greek children as they have (a) a huge gap in their education as a result of not having had any form of education for a long time; (b) different ideas concerning family roles, women’s role, religion, etc. than Greek children. Furthermore, the parents are worried that migrant children of a different age may end up bullying their own children.

Religion: 100 percent of the children at the school are Christian and learn about the sacrifices of their ancestors and nation. The parents say that “will not allow religious fanaticism that is evident by the fanatic attacks in other European states” to enter their school.

Cultural reasons: There is a huge gap between Greeks and the refugee children culturally. The integration of refugee children is viewed as a “suspicious process for the undermining of the living and educational level” of the children. “No feeling of solidarity and humanitarianism justifies an acceptance of reduction,” they say.



