Dialogue has become an alibi for inaction here in Greece, an excuse for governments that are too afraid to commit themselves. When the aim, moreover, is for this state of inaction to be prolonged, then they like to say that they are initiating dialogue with a clean slate, from zero, something which effectively means bringing reform to a grinding halt.

This is the strategy that has been chosen by the government right now to deal with education reform and it has effectively negated any progress made by former education ministers Marietta Giannakou and Thanos Veremis. The change of course was explained as a need to cool down some hot heads, especially in light of the widespread student protests in December.

But the country has no time to lose when it comes to educational reform and anyone who chooses to preserve this regime of inactivity for political purposes is undermining the country’s drive for development. The government must decide: Will it improve the educational system or will it try to shirk responsibility by simply talking about change indefinitely?