Students and teachers took to the streets around Greece on Wednesday (October 21) demanding higher state funding for education, better facilities and less-crowded classrooms, echoing protesters in other European countries.

Thousands of school and university students demonstrated in Greece’s second largest city of Thessaloniki in northern Greece, holding placards showing solidarity with students in France.

The protest march, as in the country’s capital, ended peacefully under the watchful eye of riot police officers.

“Youth across Europe, in France, in Italy, in Albania, and in many countries in Europe are all facing the exact same issues, the enemy is the same, the reasons that are bringing us out onto the streets are the same,” said university student Fani Chrisania. “We demand support measures now for all students.”

Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki said before the protests that she was hearing students' demands. She acknowledged housing costs were putting pressure on Greek households and said projects were underway for new student residences and facilities upgrades.

The demonstrations follow days of protests in France and Albania, where anger over rising living costs and perceived corruption has led to clashes and heavy property damage.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Students in Greece's Thessaloniki join nationwide protests over education

VIDEO SHOWS: STUDENTS MARCHING / RIOT POLICE MONITORING PROTEST/ SOUNDBITE FROM PROTESTER

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: THESSALONIKI, GREECE (OCTOBER 21, 2026)(REUTERS - Access all)

1. STUDENTS MARCHING AND CHANTING: (Greek) “Students united, victorious”

2. PROTESTER SPEAKING INTO MEGAPHONE AND STUDENTS CHANTING

3. STUDENTS MARCHING AND CHANTING: (Greek) “We dream of another society”

4. PLACARD READING (Greek): “Greek Students” (LEFT) AND (French): “French Students” (RIGHT), WITH A DRAWING OF TWO SHAKING HANDS IN THE CENTRE

5. PROTESTERS MARCHING

6. (SOUNDBITE)(Greek) 23-YEAR OLD UNIVERSITY STUDENT FANI CHRISANIA, SAYING:

“Youth across Europe, in France, in Italy, in Albania, and in many countries in Europe are all facing the exact same issues, the enemy is the same, the reasons that are bringing us out onto the streets are the same.”

7. VARIOUS OF RIOT POLICE OFFICERS HUDDLED TOGETHER WATCHING THE MARCH, HOLDING RIOT SHIELDS AND WEARING GAS MASKS

8. (SOUNDBITE)(Greek) 23-YEAR OLD UNIVERSITY STUDENT FANI CHRISANIA, SAYING:

“The main issue that (university) students are facing is housing, expensive rents that we see reaching 600, 700 euros.”

9. PROTESTERS GATHERED

10. TWO PROTESTERS SHOUTING (Greek): “Students united, victorious”

11. PROTESTERS

12. PLACARDS READING: (Greek) “Our dreams cannot afford your rents” (LEFT) AND “Free public education for each child” (RIGHT)

13. (SOUNDBITE)(Greek) 23-YEAR OLD UNIVERSITY STUDENT FANI CHRISANIA, SAYING:

“We demand support measures now for all students, for working students: We know that one it two students is working while studying from the first year (of university) and they cannot make ends meet.”

14. PROTESTER WAVING FLARE AS HE MARCHES

15. PROTESTER ON SHOULDERS OF ANOTHER HOLDING PLACARD