ATHENS – The New Democracy government, despite resistance from teachers, is moving ahead with a plan for evaluations of their performances as part of an education reform after the former ruling Radical Left SYRIZA lessened standards.

The bill also sets more school hours for foreign languages and information technology and English lessons in kindergarten and sent to the Parliament the government controls outright, making passage a certainty.

Beginning a debate, Education Minister Niki Kerameus said the government wants to “build a school for critical thought and alertness, for constant self-improvement, which teaches knowledge and moral standards, which molds free and responsible citizens.” 

With a vote in Parliament looming, teachers union protested a requirement they would be evaluated and said the reforms to upgrade educational standards were “anti-education” without explaining.

The unions also object to the use of cameras to broadcast classes online as part of distance learning during the pandemic, saying that the measure is a violation of privacy although a common practice and would have left the students without class.