Why Greece has thrown more than 300,000 long-time students out of public universities

The Greek government recently announced that more than three hundred thousand long-standing students will be removed from the lists of public universities. The measure affects students enrolled in four-year undergraduate programs before 2017, while about 35,000 students managed to renew their enrollment. This has reduced the active student population in the country by about half, down from 350,000 students in 2024 across 25 public universities.

The reasons behind the reform and the government's goals

According to the Ministry of Education, updating student files allows universities to better plan educational offerings and investments. Deputy Minister, Nikos Papaioannou, stressed that this step is essential to improve academic quality, optimize day-to-day functioning and tighten the evaluation criteria of universities in international rankings. Minister of the ruling Nea Dimokratia party, Sofia Zacharaki, added: "Student status is not valid for life at any modern European university. We want diplomas with value, which reflect commitment, skills and passion."

Much criticism

Despite the official justification, the reform has generated much criticism in the academic community. Opponents argue that the measure could disadvantage students in a weaker socioeconomic position, for whom completing a university education actually requires more flexibility. In Greece, public university courses are funded by the state and EU citizens pay no tuition fees, but the elimination of long-standing students risks excluding those who have interrupted their studies due to work or other personal circumstances.

The implications of the decision

Up until recently, only public universities awarded officially recognized degrees, but now some accredited private institutions have joined the ranks. The reform eliminates practices such as lifetime enrollment, where students could maintain their enrollment even after long breaks. The government thus wants to make the university system more efficient, with active and engaged students who actually have the competencies demanded in the job market. At the same time, this inflames debate about the right to education and the need to protect the most vulnerable within the student population.

(MP/©GreenMe.it/translation and adaptation: The Global Money/Illustration: Dom Fou for Unsplash)