The long hard road to Greek University reforms

The ailing Greek education system has been part of the dominant discourse since the mid 2000's when Conservative Minister Marietta Yiannakou fought hard for educational reform. No matter how determined Yiannakou appeared to tackle the problems plaguing Greek universities, her efforts were met by a brick wall. People said Greek society 'wasn't ready' for education reform, and the newly elected socialist opposition party head, George Papandreou, was in no place to upset a traditional alliance between his party and left wing groups.  Year after year, on the anniversary of the Polytechnic University student uprising against the military junta, Greek universities became the staging ground for clashes between the police and molotof-wielding youths who used Greek law to their advantage, turning universities into their private safe havens.

Many of us breathed a huge sigh of relief last August when an overwhelming majority of the Greek parliament passed an omnibus educational reform bill. The bill was brought to parliament by education Minister Anna Diamantopoulou and three months later, conservative, socialist and far-right politicians agreed to form Greece's first coalition government in decades. The Minister kept her spot at the Education Ministry and has since concentrated her efforts toward the implementation of the measures. 

In addition to lifting the ban on police intervention inside University buildings, the new law brings a radical change to the University Dean electoral procedure.  Before the law, student youth groups affiliated to Greece's political parties held the decisive vote in university elections. The new law changes this, with only professors having a say. The law's intention is to break the link between student body, party politics and academia that has poisoned Greek universities for so long. Some students received grades based on their political affiliations, and fist fights between students from opposing camps broke out before election time.


In a country where the education system has fallen victim to the worst kind of political partisanship, the implementation of this law has met insurmountable obstacles.  Since the  passing of the law, many Universities have given it the cold shoulder, while others have postponed elections as many as four times after violence erupted on campuses between professors and students protesting the law on one hand, and law-abidding professors who showed up to cast their vote, on the other.

With professors themselves not adhering to state laws, Mrs. Diamantopoulou pulled the only weapon the government had left, and that is to cut funding for the Universities if they do not comply with the law. 

In a coalition government reshuffle less than month ago, Mrs. Diamantopoulou was replaced by well-respected Linguist Dr. George Babiniotis.  According to reports, former Dean of the Athens University George Babiniotis took the reigns of the Education Ministry at the behest of Conservative Leader Anthony Samaras.

Appearing on several TV channels, the new Minister of Education is saying the government doesn't have a right to threaten universities over the implementation of the law. His critics note that by retracting the threat, he is giving up on the only negotiating weapon available to the government in the current controversy.  The Greek media are already referring to his decision to disburse University funds as a step backward in Greece's path to reforms. The Babiniotis case also opens up the question whether technocrats are better suited than politicians to tackle and promote the reforms Greece is in desperate need of. An argument can be made whether a person coming from the established  academia is the right person to be dismantling it. 

When Greek university professors, acting out of entitlement, refuse to respect state law and the Greek Minister of Education seems to be compromising its implementation, what example does this give students? And, more broadly, what kind of example does it set for Greek society whose members are often criticized for not abiding by the law?


Today, the Dean of the Athens University said the Law School would be closing down for Easter break a week earlier than planned in order to protect administrators and students from 'organizations outside the University system'  expected to gather on the law school campus this week.  Who knows what awaits the Athens Law campus and its students in the weeks ahead, and in the years to come?  Sadly, after dozens of shops in downtown Athens were burned to the ground in February, it was revealed that the Athens Law School premises served as a laboratory for molotof preparation.

A fresh new start?

Walking downhill towards the sea, this almond tree stopped me in my tracks.
The tree's beauty both majestic and ethereal, its pink flowers sparkling in the sun.
This is P. Faliro, a residential Athens neighborhood, home to Greek immigrants from Asia Minor and a mix of young families, singles and retirees.  Coastal P. Faliro always feels calmly reassuring, in stark contrast to nearby Syntagma square, the staging ground of massive protests and infrequent but highly unsettling clashes between the police and masked youth.

Spring is here, after one of the longest winters Athens has seen in decades.
The word "spring" is full of connotations for Greeks at this important junction in their country's history. Irrespective of age, socioeconomic background and political allegiances, most Greeks agree on one thing: Something's got to give. However, in a country that has for decades worked from the top down, you'll find disagreement as to which group should lead the way and shoulder the burdens in the long, painful path toward large-scale reforms.

Should the political leaders lead the way through their example?   Or rather the citizens take matters in their own hands by effecting change in their daily lives, in their homes and on the community level? One commonly held perception among the public is that, while private and public sector workers experience unprecedented salary cuts, Ministers and MP's continue to be compensated as before.

The one clear cut opportunity for citizens to have their say in a democracy comes at election time.  Elections in Greece are likely to be called in Spring.  At this moment in time, one common aspiration unites Greeks to one another. At first, this feels like an empowering thought. However, will Greeks take advantage of this unique, even historical opportunity, to change the status-quo? The expectation for change is higher than ever, but there is no guarantee -come election time- that Greeks will put their money where their mouth is.

Will voters endorse parties and politicians outside the mainstream political establishment? As we all know, cultural factors play a significant role in voting patterns.  Greece is an aging population in which middle aged and older men command greater respect than younger, less experienced politicians. Greeks are generally skeptical of young people and political parties. Recently formed parties such as 'Dimiourgia Xana'  (Recreate Greece) might not muster enough support among older age groups.   Although many Greeks say they want new blood in parliament, sons and daughters of influential political families are once more running for re-election and there are even new candidates emulating this model.

We'll know soon enough whether Greeks decided to take a leap of faith, or  further endorse politicians from the two political parties largely responsible for the state of Greece today.


And so my blog begins with a picture of Beauty, Rebirth, Regeneration, and Hope.