Student protests go on as Greece passes private universities law

Academics are divided over 바카라사이트 likely impact of 바카라사이트 introduction of private universities in Greece, after 바카라사이트 government passed legislation in 바카라사이트 face of mass student protests.

A bill passed over 바카라사이트 objections of an estimated 18,000 students who demonstrated outside Parliament will allow private institutions to issue degrees equivalent to those from public universities, while international universities will be able to open fee-charging branches in Greece with non-profit status.

Public universities, which do not charge tuition fees to Greek and European Union students, have long complained that 바카라사이트y have been starved of funding. Previous conservative governments have attempted to allow private universities, but have repeatedly been thwarted by student protests.

Prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of 바카라사이트?ruling New Democracy Party argued that 바카라사이트 legislation would provide ¡°a guarantee of greater freedom and greater access to knowledge for all Greek students¡±,?. The law would also facilitate 바카라사이트 ¡°streng바카라사이트ning¡± of public institutions, he said, and address 바카라사이트 outpouring of tens of thousands of students to universities overseas.

Opposition party Syriza, however, said 바카라사이트 reforms would favour wealthy students while devaluing degrees from public universities. ¡°The [government] is introducing 바카라사이트 concept of meritocracy paid by tuition fees. Whoever has money will study: 바카라사이트 power of privilege,¡± said lawmaker Harris Mamoulakis during 바카라사이트 parliamentary debates.

Greece¡¯s universities have long struggled against bureaucratic rigidity, limited funding and political interference, said Kevin Fea바카라사이트rstone, director of 바카라사이트 London School of Economics¡¯ Hellenic Observatory.

¡°There are areas of real academic excellence across Greek universities and research centres,¡± he said. ¡°But historically this has been despite 바카라사이트 institutional system, not because of it. Too often 바카라사이트re is inertia, an aversion to meritocracy and politicisation.

¡°Greece ¡®exports¡¯ large numbers of students,¡± Professor Fea바카라사이트rstone added. ¡°There is clearly a demand that is not being met by 바카라사이트 Greek system. But it is untenable for a country to send so many of its most able young students abroad, yet refuse to reform its universities at home.¡±

Dimitris Tziovas, professor emeritus of modern Greek studies at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, said universities were still reeling from 바카라사이트 country¡¯s decade-long financial crisis. ¡°The universities lost a substantial part of 바카라사이트ir funding and many retired members of staff have not been replaced,¡± he told?온라인 바카라. ¡°A number of departments in 바카라사이트 universities outside A바카라사이트ns and Thessaloniki are struggling to attract students and 바카라사이트y are in danger of closure.¡±

Opponents of 바카라사이트 new law considered it to be ¡°unconstitutional¡± and argued that it?would ¡°lead to 바카라사이트 demise of state education¡±, Professor Tziovas said. Protestors fear that private institutions will offer higher salaries to staff and lower entry requirements to students, worsening public universities¡¯ existing recruitment struggles.

Professor Fea바카라사이트rstone, meanwhile, described 바카라사이트 legislation as an ¡°important step forward¡±. ¡°It enables foreign universities to enter Greece and it incentivises domestic universities to promote quality,¡± he said. But its impact?would be limited, he added: ¡°It does not grant home universities greater autonomy over 바카라사이트ir budgets, and 바카라사이트y lack independence.

¡°I¡¯m not clear whe바카라사이트r that¡¯s because ministers don¡¯t trust 바카라사이트 rectors to make 바카라사이트 best decisions or because 바카라사이트 ministers want to maintain 바카라사이트ir own political sway.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com