Govt says refugee children to attend classes after 2 p.m.

Controversial Greek education minister Nikos Filis on Monday said the children of Mideast war refugees being hosted in the country will attend schools after 2 p.m., essentially after the end of the normal schedule in elementary schools.

Speaking on state-run television, Filis also criticized a handful of protests around the country by parents’ associations, who expressed opposition to the attendance of refugee children in local primary schools — with objections ranging from a lack of medical screening to overcrowding.

Nevertheless, the decision appears to be a compromise aimed to avoid a further escalation of tensions in townships where refugee camps are located.

The plan to school refugee children affects only public schools, private institutions in the country are unaffected.