The number of schools around Greece that are closed due to pupil sit-ins rose to more than 200 yesterday, prompting the Education Ministry to say that it would extend the academic year by one day for each day of teaching that is lost if the protest last for more than three days in a row.

Most of the sit-ins are in Attica, where about 70 schools are closed, followed by the region of Thessaloniki where 40 schools are closed. Sit ins are also taking place in the regions of Messinia, Korinthos, Arcadia, Magnesia, Kilkis, Rethymnon and elsewhere.

The pupils are protesting cuts in education spending and the transfer of hundreds of teachers to other jobs in the civil service.