Thousands of students in Greece march against higher education reform bill allowing private universities

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Thousands of university students marched Thursday to protest the conservative New Democracy (ND) government’s higher education reform bill that intends to allow the opening of private universities in Greece.

Joined by academics, university employees, members of left-wing trade unions and political parties, students carried banners expressing opposition to private universities.

On the way to central Syntagma Square, the crowd shouted: “We are students, not customers”, “Free education” and “Degrees with merit.”

Student associations organized rallies in other cities across the country including the northern port city of Thessaloniki.

The groups also announced a temporary occupation of numerous facilities in protest of private higher education.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced higher education reforms on Dec. 20 that would allow for the establishment of private universities in Greece.

He said private universities would be able to operate as Greek branches of foreign universities, some of which are already seeking to operate in the country.

Greece has 24 accredited public universities as well as a number of private colleges.

The Constitution currently prohibits private institutions from operating as independent universities for post-secondary education.

Colleges generally overcome that constraint by forming collaboration agreements with foreign universities to offer undergraduate and postgraduate programs.