Greece lags in education, Commission report finds

A European Commission report shows Greece to be seriously lagging in the area of education, with particular reference made to the need for academics to be evaluated and for university and college departments to be merged - both demands of the country's international creditors.

The evaluation of academics' performance was stopped in 2013 amid opposition to the initiative under the previous government.

The report also points out that Greek pupils are particularly lagging in basic skills including reading and math.

Further, Greek teachers and professors are old and badly paid, according to the report. It found that half (49 percent) of teachers at Greek primary schools are aged over 50 while less than 1 percent are aged under 30.

As regards secondary education, 39 percent of teachers are aged from 40 to 49. Their wages are lower in real terms than those in most...