A/HRC/25/50/Add.1 71. The Independent Expert acknowledges the need for reform of the Greek health-care system. Nevertheless, he considers that the massive cuts to public funding to the health sector and the introduction of user fees, which have resulted in a large section of the population being unable to enjoy the minimum essential levels of the right to the highest attainable standard of health, as enshrined in article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, constitute retrogressive measures. He underscores that health is an important condition for the individual’s well-being and dignity.75 Greece therefore has an obligation to establish conditions under which the health of all individuals can be protected and promoted. D. Education 72. Annual public spending on education was cut from €7.23 billion in 2009 to €5.84 billion in 2013, a reduction of 30 per cent. The education budget has been reduced by cutting government spending on human resources, as well through drastic cuts in daily operational and maintenance costs for schools and costs for purchasing educational material. These expenditures were reduced by 24 per cent in 2011 and by a further 19 per cent in 2012.76 73. As part of austerity, between school years 2009-2010 and 2013-2014, approximately (14.5 per cent of all school units of primary education (including pre-primary schools) and 4 per cent of school units in secondary education have been merged. The closure of schools has in certain instances significantly increased the distance for children to reach school, and limited access and increased school drop-out rates, especially among Roma children, remain a concern.77 74. In addition, the number of secondary school teachers has been reduced, , mainly through retirement and restrictions placed on new recruitments from mid-2010, in particular for the school year 2012-13 by about 11 per cent. It is planned that 2,500 more teachers will be placed in the mobility scheme and may eventually be retrenched. The salaries of teachers in public schools have also been cut. 75. According to the Ministry of Education, however, these funding cuts have not resulted in a deterioration of the right to education as many teachers will been reassigned according to need. Nonetheless, the Independent Expert considers that these cuts in a very short time cannot realistically be absorbed without any negative impact on the quality of public education.78 E. Adequate housing 76. As a result of the recession and the adjustment programme, there has been an increase in homelessness since 2009, estimated at 25 per cent. Non-governmental organizations estimate that at least 20,000 people are now homeless. Many of the “neo- 75 76 77 78 See E/C.12/2000/4, para. 1. See European Commission, “Funding of Education in Europe 2000-2012: The impact of the economic crisis”, Eurydice Report, 2013 (available from http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice.../documents/thematic_reports/147EN.pdf), p. 37. See also CRC/C/GRC/CO/2-3, paras. 60-61. See for example Iordanis Paraskevopoulos and John Morgan, “Greek Education and the Financial Crisis. Education System with a Bleak Future?”, Weiterbildung, 5/2011, pp. 38-41. 19