Galery

2

1

Anastasia Balezdrova

The rectors of most Greek universities are determined to fight to the end with the Ministry of Education in connection with the changes that the draft framework law of the Ministry envisages. Greek universities heads accused the leadership of the Ministry of hatred to the university community and of introducing express changes in the middle of summer.

After making an angry message, in which they oppose the reduction of the course of education, mergers or closures of universities, transferring the state responsibility for funding universities to an independent body and the introduction of fees in the bachelor degree program, they held a number of meetings with leaders of the parliamentary political parties.

Today, the rectors met with the President of New Democracy Antonis Samaras and the party’s person in charge for the education and former Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos. It became clear after the discussion that the main opposition party supports the Council of Rectors.

Aris Spiliotopoulos required the leadership of the Ministry of Education "to submit the bill to Parliament on September 1 and to provide the rectors and the New Democracy with sufficient time to present their positions." He urged the Ministry "not to insist on election of rectors in a way that is not connected only with the academic community", admitting however that supervision and transparency are needed in the electoral process.

He drew attention to the issue of the duration of the course of education and stressed that the European trend is about to abandon the three-year course and return to the four-year course, which is valid in Greece today. New Democracy and the rectors have no objection to the establishment of a managing body of universities, provided that their competencies, especially on supervision and finance, are regulated in advance and there are no changes in the election of rectors from university circle.

Aris Spiliotopoulos expressed his concern for the period after which the changes will be introduced. New Democracy suggests the introduction of the relevant regulations to take place after the mandate of the rectors. The leadership of the main opposition party and the rectors supported the need for adequate funding to secure the public character of higher education.

 "At today's meeting with the President of Democratic Alliance Dora Bakoyannis we presented our perspective on what needs to change in Greek universities. In general, we do not like many of the things effective today but unfortunately, what they suggest is not what we require. People with experience in university managing have concrete ideas for the changes that should take place to change the school system in higher education. Unfortunately, these proposals have not been heard from the government so far," said the representative of rectors.

After the meeting with the heads of the Greek universities that lasted nearly two hours Dora Bakoyannis said that the bill contains many good provisions "from the suspension of providing free textbooks to many of the details concerning the eternal students and others. However, there are things that a substantial dialogue between the academic community and the Ministry with the participation of other parties should clarify. Moreover, this dialogue should take place not only to say that it was held, but as a dialogue to resolve the issues, the academic community places, without having obtained an answer until today. "

Dora Bakoyannis urged the Minister of Education Anna Diamandopoulou to start this essential dialogue immediately with clear and open positions, rather than with hidden thoughts that will inevitably show up in the future.

The heads of colleges in turn said that the bill is moving in the right direction.