Dear Sir,
I write on behalf of the FIEC (International Federation of Associations of Classical Studies), a body which includes all major Associations of Classical Studies in the world. We have learned with profound concern of a steady restriction and downgrading in the teaching of Ancient Greek and Latin Language and Literature in Greek Secondary Education during the last three years.
More specifically:

1. In the three classes of the Gymnasium one hour is eliminated from the teaching of Ancient Greek Language.
2. According to a Ministerial Decision, the final examinations of Ancient Greek Language and Literature have been abolished in the three classes of the Gymnasium. The result is detrimental, since the schoolchildren, as it is self-evident, pay little or no attention to a non-examined course. Accordingly, they will finish the Gymnasium deprived of an adequate acquaintance with ancient Greek language and with some fundamental classical texts.
3. In the Lyceum the teaching of Ancient Greek Literature from the original is dramatically diminishing. In view of some formal suggestions by the Committee for the Dialogue in Education, a more radical downgrading seems to be imminent with the abolition of the teaching of Ancient Greek Literature from the Lyceum and its restriction only to those wishing to take Humanities in Higher Education.
4. Moreover, Latin is restricted in the third class of the Lyceum only to the candidates of Humanities, who face great difficulties in assimilating in a single year the knowledge of the Latin language. We believe that Latin could be taught also in the second class of the Lyceum for this category of pupils.
   These measures will be detrimental to the linguistic and cultural background of Greek schoolchildren and to the quality of classical education in its birthplace. Such a policy is against the practice adopted in many countries all over the world, where the teaching of classics has been considered an important tool for the knowledge of our common heritage in language and culture.
   Unfortunately, our representation to your predecessor as Minister of Education one year ago remained without any response. As an academic, we expect you to pay the appropriate attention to our new intervention and to prevent the downgrading of classical studies in Greek Secondary Education and the harm to the education of future generations of Greek children.
   Looking forward to your reply, I remain
   Yours sincerely
   Franco Montanari (FIEC President)