Greek Education Bill: Tear Gas as Students Protest University Reform

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In Central Athens on Friday Greek students protesting the new Greek Education Bill engaged in acts of violence, hurling petrol bombs at police forces who responded with tear gas.

The incident unfolded just hours before parliament was poised to approve legislation permitting foreign private universities to establish branches within Greece.

For weeks prior, thousands of students had been peacefully protesting against the impending reform, which they argue will diminish the value of degrees obtained from public universities.

However, tensions escalated notably as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis advocated for the swift passage of the bill.

Concerns among the student populace regarding their future prospects loomed large, with 25-year-old Stratos Katselis expressing apprehension: “We are scared that … if we do manage to graduate we’ll never be able to get a job anywhere. No young person today can make any kind of plan for the future. All we see are dead ends.”

Mitsotakis, commencing his second term after a victory in June of the previous year, defended the legislation, asserting that it would stem the outflow of Greek students to foreign universities, a phenomenon he deemed detrimental to an economy still on the mend from a prolonged financial crisis.

Furthermore, he contended that the bill would bring Greece in line with other European Union nations and invigorate competition in the realm of higher education.

With the conservative government commanding a majority of 158 seats in the 300-seat legislature, the bill’s approval seemed imminent.

“Parliament is not only called to vote on a pivotal bill but to approve a radical and courageous education reform for growth and social justice,” stated Mitsotakis.

“It will finally allow non-state, non-profitable institutions to operate in our country.”

Despite the prime minister’s assertions, many students, backed by some educators and university staff, remained unconvinced.

A faction of protesters broke away from the main demonstration, resorting to violence by hurling petrol bombs at law enforcement officers, who responded by dispersing them with tear gas, according to witnesses and a police official cited by Reuters.

This legislation is one component of the government’s broader reform agenda, which also encompasses a same-sex marriage law that was passed the previous month.

Although Greece allocates 3%-4% of its annual economic output to education, a figure below the EU average, Mitsotakis emphasized that the bill includes provisions for increased funding for state universities.

In summary, the events in central Athens underscore the contentious nature of the proposed legislation concerning the establishment of foreign private universities in Greece.

While the government contends that the bill will bolster the nation’s higher education sector and stem the brain drain of Greek students, protesters, including students and some educators, remain skeptical, fearing that it will undermine the value of degrees from public institutions.

This disagreement erupted into violence, with clashes between students and police marring what was otherwise a peaceful demonstration.

As parliament moves forward with its deliberations, the outcome of this legislative battle will have far-reaching implications for Greece’s education system and its future trajectory.

Read also: MEPs voice concerns about allegations of “democratic backsliding” in Greece, Spain, and Malta