University governance

Greek university rectors have urged exemptions to a deregistration policy targeting students who exceed a time limit for completing their studies, highlighting that some students have valid reasons for slower academic progress.

All state universities, along with some private institutions, will be closed on May 20 in protest against the government's failure to fulfill its obligations outlined in the Higher Education Law. Activities deemed urgent will proceed, while all other operations will be suspended, as indicated in an open letter circulated by the Council of Rectors.

"In no other country in the world would this kind of tolerance pass" he said for students who repeatedly break the law - He called on the rectorate authorities to assume their responsibilities - First priority is the battle with price inflations

The successful passage of the bill legalizing same-sex marriage brought relief to the government as the measure had created internal divisions and has left scars in New Democracy with one third of the party's deputies not voting for the law in Parliament.

The establishment of private universities in Greece should proceed on the basis of a well-defined institutional framework, the country's Council of Rectors said on Friday.

Only four of the country's 25 universities have security plans recognized by the Citizen Protection Ministry and, as recent developments have shown, even these have yet to be implemented. Plans have been drafted by the universities of Patra and Thessaloniki, along with Athens' National Technical University and University of Economics. 

University rectors are right when they say that they themselves cannot play the role of the police and enforce order against those who act arbitrarily on campus. 

However, they are not convincing when, in the midst of a tense situation, they present obstacles to remote exams. Obviously, this is an emergency solution. But the need now exists for it. 

Remote exams will be organized at institutions of higher education where it is not possible to take them in person due to student occupations, according to a decision taking at a meeting on Monday of university rectors.

During periods of significant tension like the present, the presence of a campus police force at the country's universities would indeed fuel the fire and make targets of its officers. This, however, does not mean that the plan to introduce security to these institutions should be abandoned. 

In response to the recent incidents of "terrorism" at Athens University faculties and the disruption of general assemblies by hooded students and outsiders who reportedly threatened participants with clubs and knives, outraged rectors and deans are mulling police intervention to restore order.