The death of a 13-year-old girl at a special school in Piraeus has sparked renewed concern among parents and specialists, who say chronic understaffing leaves vulnerable students exposed to serious and preventable risks. The student died on Friday morning after choking during a meal at the school.
Parents of children with autism and intellectual disabilities say they have repeatedly warned authorities that the lack of trained educators, aides, and nursing staff creates dangerous conditions. According to the Parents’ Association representing special schools in the region, each unit’s staffing needs are known before the school year begins, yet hiring remains insufficient.
Experts who reviewed the incident said the girl suffered respiratory arrest caused by hypoxia. They noted that immediate access to properly trained personnel and essential medical equipment—such as a defibrillator—could potentially have changed the outcome. Staff at the school attempted CPR, followed by further efforts from local health professionals and emergency responders, but the child could not be revived.
The school was sealed by authorities as part of the ongoing investigation. Parents who visited the site expressed frustration, saying they had met with the education ministry just weeks earlier to warn that shortages in staffing and support made a serious accident increasingly likely.
