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Emanuela Karastoyanova

In the Friday afternoon the Athens University is busy. Students with textbooks and lecture notes are walking across the hallways and entering from one room to another. Some are taking the last exams from the September's session, others are selecting courses for the next year. The school year is already knocking on the door. And along with it are appearing also the eternally current questions for any student: "What now?" What level of has thr Greek higher education reached and what opportunities it offers to the students who have invested in reading thick books  for at least 4 years of their lives?

Despina and Penny will graduate psychology this year and say they still are not clear exactly how to continue their development. "The hours of practice are completely inadequate, and the knowledge that we get here is more theoretical and general", they are clear. They do not hide that  if they had the chance they would not hesitate to study abroad. They would gladly trust the educational system of England, Germany or France. "Students wishing to study abroad are many. Especially those who want to take masters degrees. I know places here are few and it is hard for a student to be accepted," said Despina. "And as far as I know things here are not as well organized" - Penny added. The girls argue that recently the trend of preference for foreign universities to the Greek becomes stronger. "It's particularly evident in the majors with a practical orientation. The more theoretical majors are in a better situation," says Penny.

Dissatisfied with education in colleges and universities are also my next interlocutors, Niki and Alexandra. The girls are students of French literature, and although their major is more theoretically orientated, they also have doubts about how they will apply the knowledge obtained in the university. "Definitely we lack classes with exercises and practice of the language. There is no connection between teachers and students. Our relationships are more formal", complain the young girls. And the knowledge? According to them is purely "theoretical". In this situation, in the words of the girls the only advantage of studying in Greece is that it is free. Both of them are sure that if they had the chance they would gladly go to study abroad. Best in England or France.

 Eli on the other hand is a representative of the students with more theoretical orientation. This year she graduates modern Greek literature. The girl, however, claims that even in this major as missing classes of practical training. She would also like it if the teachers were more interested in students. As Niki and Alexandra, she asserts that the only positive part of the Greek education is that it is free. If given the opportunity she and her colleagues would go to study in Germany. A for the masters degree Eli is certain that the it is best if a person goes abroad.

The responses of the young girls in the beginning of the school year do not sound encouraging. But they are truly a reflection of the statistical data which... not at all pink. The Quality Assurance Office of higher education in the country alerted that urgent measures are needed to save the Greek education. The researches carried out have almost fatal for the country results. The number of students and universities is disproportionately large compared to the population. Far too big is the number both of the BA and master programs. The sad thing in this situation is that the perspectives of finding work and professional development is not taken into account. BA programs often have arbitrary profile and do not offer the required level of training. According to the Office, the Masters programs also develop randomly and are not necessarily tailored to the needs of the labor market. Another serious shortcoming of the Greek education are the too old education methods. Workshops and practical exercises lack and students are left to deal alone with the material.

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