Child Refugees Start First Classes at Greek Schools

The first 1,500 child refugees are starting lessons at 20 Greek schools, while another 20,000 refugee children will be enrolled later in due course, according to local media.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The first 1,500 child refugees are starting lessons at Greek schools on Monday afternoon, local media reported.

The classes are held from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. local time (11:00 to 15:00 GMT) at 20 schools, while another 20,000 refugee children will be enrolled later in due course, the Ekathimerini newspaper reported.

Commenting on the discontent of parents of some other students over the issue, Greek Education Minister Nikos Filis told Sunday to state television ERT that it were "isolated cases" and "Greek society is ready to embrace the children of refugees," according to the newspaper.

In September, parent associations across the country repeatedly opposed the government’s statement to enroll refugee children in Greek schools.

Europe is struggling to find a solution to a massive refugee crisis, with hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing conflict-torn countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Greece is on the frontline of the refugee crisis, with undocumented migrants arriving in the Balkan state across the Mediterranean in order to seek asylum in the European Union.