Panepistimio metro station to close at 9:30 before Athens education rally

Metro closure from 9:30

Police will close Athens' Panepistimio metro station from 9:30 on Thursday, 5 November, citing safety reasons linked to the planned mobilisation. Until further notice, trains on Line 2 will pass through the station without stopping, so passengers cannot board or alight there. No time for reopening has been announced yet. Passengers heading toward the centre are advised to use the neighbouring Syntagma and Omonia stations instead.

The rally

Student associations, pupils and teachers are set to gather at the Propylaea at 11:00 on Thursday for a central pan-education rally in Athens. The demonstrators are defending the public and free character of education and calling for better learning conditions. Similar mobilisations are planned in other cities across Greece. Student associations, pupils and teachers are joining forces for the event.

Teachers' work stoppage

The teachers' federation OLME has announced a facilitating work stoppage from 10:00 to 14:00 on Thursday, so that teachers can take part in the rallies. The federation says it stands fully behind the struggle of young people. In its statement it said:

“We stand alongside our students and the university students who are fighting for the right to public and free education, to the studies and the life they deserve.”

Taken together, the station closure, the work stoppage and the rally form one morning timetable, set out below.