Education minister pledges to swiftly hire 14,000 teachers

Education Minister Nikos Filis pledged on Wednesday to hire up to 14,000 supply teachers by the end of the week to cover shortages at state schools.

Speaking a day after he was confronted by unemployed teachers ahead of meetings with teaching unions, Filis argued that he had inherited the shortages and would step up efforts to fill the empty spots.

Some 270 schools have failed to open for the new academic year, mostly due to a lack of teachers.

"The gaps are being filled day by day," said Filis. "Our priority is primary education and children with special needs."