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‘It’s deplorable school is closed for 3-4 months’

If Karolos had known what was in store for him when he enrolled, he would have gone to the corresponding department in Panteion University instead. Politically right wing, he became a member of the New Democracy-affiliated student union DAP out of his own interest. «I want the school to remain open. I am against the sit-ins, as university is where culture develops and it is deplorable that it should be closed for a period of three to four months.» Karolos has not had any lectures since before Christmas. To fill time, he started working at a newspaper as a volunteer to obtain work experience. He is also attending a private drama school as he hopes one day to combine his university studies with theater. Karolos believes the demonstrations are a great deal of fuss about nothing. «The government is not proposing reforms but some changes. They are called reforms so that the government is considered to be reformative. If the diplomas given by private institutes are recognized in the civil service it is of no consequence, as no student from these institutes would think of working in the civil service.» He does not believe the protests and sit-ins will achieve anything. «The provisions have not been well thought out and are contradictory but the students must also officially submit their proposals. You cannot submit anything from the street.» The issue is not the foundation of private universities. «The state universities offer courses that are of no interest to private universities. And what does it mean that our studies don’t provide security? You don’t study just to get a job. Otherwise, all the humanities departments should close down and IT courses open in their place. Students from state universities are already losing jobs to graduates from private universities.» Karolos knows that the future is uncertain but at the moment the present is important: to obtain a degree from a Greek university.

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