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From January 1 Greece will have to pay a fine of €15 000 per day, because it did not execute a directive of the European Commission regarding diplomas from private universities. The country will try to start cooperation with organizations in Europe, which recognize private universities.

Representatives of the Ministry of Education said that they will not change the law but will improve it, so that after New Year all universities, which fulfill the necessary requirements, will receive permits after their applications are reviewed. Education Minister Anna Diamandopoulou left for Brussels on November 26, in order to discuss the subject and probably this week she will announce her decision in front of the parliament, which will cause riots of the academia.

The deadline for Greece to implement the European Directive 2005/36 in its legislation, expired two years ago. The subject of giving permits to private university has been prolonged since 1989 and for those 20 years, over 25 000 people have graduated from private colleges and universities and another 25 000 are studying right now.

While the tension around private universities is growing, the elementary and high school education Council submitted its proposals to the Ministry to establish all-day schools and decrease the number of mandatory subjects. The report of the Council, chairman of which if Professor Georgios Babiniotis, offers changes in the educational system in Greece, by starting from increasing mandatory education years to 11, cutting mandatory subjects in high schools, increasing elective subjects during the last few years of high school, making the school schedule all day – until 04:00PM and during the afternoons all classes will have a cultural program and will be able to prepare themselves for the next day.

The goal of this education program is to develop the skills of the students, because they are the key to opening their creativity, to stress on team work and to teach students positive thinking in terms of lifelong learning.

In regards to the exam system for applying in universities, the experts believe that students graduating high school cannot go to universities without taking exams. The National Evaluation Center will take the responsibility to hold the exams few times per year. The proposal is for students to be tested on fewer subjects.