Greece, an island school's last two 6th graders will leave behind a room full of empty desks

A primary school on the Greek island of Kalamos is nearing the end of an era, with only two sixth graders left in the classroom. After Sept. 23, teacher Chryssa Ntalaka’s class had just those two students, and the school is expected to shut once they leave for middle school on the mainland via a 35-minute ferry from Kalamos to Mytikas. The closure follows a broader enrollment collapse across Greece: authorities reportedly closed 75 schools and suspended or extended suspensions for more than 400 others. With Kalamos’ year-round population down to about 80, researchers warn school closures can accelerate depopulation.