Education deadline looming
The government will need to push through legislative changes next month regarding the professional rights of graduates from private colleges in order to avoid a looming EU deadline on the controversial issue. Brussels has given Athens until the end of October to adopt its most recent directive regarding the equal rights offered to graduates of private tertiary institutions with those who completed their studies at a state university. Greece has already been referred to the European Court for failing to adopt a previous EU directive on private college graduate rights. The issue has split political parties, with conservatives New Democracy being one of the supporters of non-state education. Currently there are some 20,000 students attending one of the 30 colleges operating in Greece, according to industry estimates. Another 20,000 students are estimated to have graduated from a private college since they were introduced to the country some 18 years ago.
