The fact that many Technical College (TEI) departments have a student body of less than 10 is evidence of what everyone already knows - that tertiary education in Greece has developed without any planning and based on no educational criteria.

For instance, departments have opened in provincial TEI campuses only to provide income for the host town.

To rectify this, authorities have tried to impose a minimum grade - a 10 out of a 20 - as the pass mark required for registration in a TEI program and, of course, there has been opposition.

This year’s list of successful candidates should help prompt a comprehensive review of higher education. This review should be carried out solely on the basis of educational criteria and the demand for educational services.

For example, there is no reason for the continued existence of many faculties that enroll only 30 students in the entire country.

These faculties should all be merged into one school, even if that is outside a major town.

Other courses of study that are not in demand should also be abolished.

Problems that emerge in the education system should be dealt with as a whole, and not simply patched up in piecemeal fashion. What is needed is an overall national plan for education and the courage to implement it.

Educational reform should be deep-rooted and effective. That is the government’s main duty to the nation, which it should not neglect.