“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel” SOCRATES

Widespread reform of the education system is taking place in Greece as the government of Costas Karamanlis continues its quest to infuse the economy with the spirit of excellence displayed in the widely praised staging of the Athens Olympics of two years ago.

A raft of legislation is being introduced to ensure quality in Greek schools and universities and align the education sector more closely with the needs of the economy, society and labour market.

Fifteen laws have already been passed to ensure quality by introducing an official system of evaluation and establishing a new system in diploma recognition, an integrated system of life-long vocational training and an international university at Thessaloniki. Millions of euros are being invested in teacher training, creating new departments in schools and universities, and providing new books and computers.

Attention is being focused particularly on upgrading the tertiary sector, into which the government wants to introduce principles of quality assurance, selection and choice to tailor it more effectively to the needs of both the students and a rapidly changing society.

Minister of Education Marietta Giannakou is determined to ensure high standards at public universities

Proposals include changing the constitution to allow non-profit private universities to operate, limiting the time students are allowed for the completion of degrees and developing joint degree programmes with other European institutions.

The reform initiative has provoked protests from academics and students, but the government’s determination to press ahead realistically reflects the need to combat structural unemployment and equip Greece to compete effectively in the global marketplace. With the Bologna Process aiming to establish a European Higher Education Area by 2010, reform will also bring Greece in line with EU standards and bolster the credibility and competitiveness of its universities.

“Quality assurance lies at the heart of the European Higher Education Area,” says Minister of National Education Marietta Giannakou. “We have all agreed on the development of national and European standards and guidelines for our quality assurance systems and are determined to work towards upgrading higher education at both national and European level.”