Greece braces for nationwide education rally as thousands gather in Athens

Thousands of students, teachers, and workers are gathering at the Propylaea in Athens for a major nationwide education rally, with police on high alert. Rallies are also planned in Thessaloniki and other Greek cities. The protest, backed by teachers' unions DOE and OLME, demands filling 15,000 teacher vacancies, reducing class sizes, abolishing exam banks and minimum university entry scores, and increasing education funding to 5% of GDP. Unions also seek higher wages and the restoration of the 13th and 14th salaries. Authorities have deployed about 3,000 police officers in Athens, with preventive checks and protection for ministries and embassies. Regional rallies are scheduled across Greece on various dates through early November.