© Reuters. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addresses lawmakers at parliament, forward of a vote on a invoice which permits international personal universities to arrange branches in Greece, in Athens, March 8, 2024. REUTERS/Louiza Vradi
ATHENS (Reuters) -Greek college students threw petrol bombs at police who responded with tear gasoline in central Athens on Friday, hours earlier than parliament was anticipated to cross laws that may permit international personal universities to arrange branches within the nation.
Hundreds of scholars have been protesting peacefully for weeks in opposition to the reform that they are saying will devalue levels from public universities, however anger boiled over simply as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged lawmakers to vote the invoice via.
“We’re scared that … if we do handle to graduate we’ll by no means be capable of get a job anyplace,” stated Stratos Katselis, 25. “No younger particular person at the moment could make any sort of plan for the long run. All we see are lifeless ends.”
Mitsotakis, who received a second time period in June final yr, stated the legislation will assist reverse an exodus of tens of 1000’s of Greek college students to universities overseas, a drag on an financial system nonetheless recovering from a decade-long monetary disaster.
The invoice will even assist align Greece with the remainder of the European Union and enhance competitors in greater schooling, he stated.
The invoice is prone to be authorised because the conservative authorities controls 158 lawmakers within the 300-seat legislature.
“Parliament is just not solely referred to as to vote on a pivotal invoice however to approve a radical and brave schooling reform for progress and social justice,” Mitsotakis stated. “It is going to lastly permit non-state, non-profitable establishments to function in our nation.”
College students, with help from some academics and college workers, will not be satisfied. One group broke away from the demonstration and threw petrol bombs at police who dispersed them with tear gasoline, Reuters witnesses and a police official stated.
The invoice is a part of the federal government’s reform agenda that additionally features a identical intercourse marriage legislation that was handed final month.
Greece spends 3%-4% of its annual financial output on schooling, under the EU common. However Mitsotakis stated the invoice stipulated elevated funding for state universities.
