Monday February 5, 2007
Greek universities shut down for weeklong strike
ATHENS, Greece (AP): Greek universities shut down Monday as lecturers and professors began a weeklong strike to protest government-proposed education reforms.
Teaching at universities has already been disrupted by student sit-ins at more than 300 departments across the country, and the turmoil has led to the January and February exam period being canceled.
Protests have focused on proposed changes that would allow private universities and colleges to operate in Greece and the degrees they issue to be recognized by the state. Opponents of the plan argue this would channel funds away from cash-starved state universities and would diminish the value of the degrees they issue.
Any changes would require a constitutional amendment, which would only take effect following the next elections, expected in early 2008.
Students, high-school teachers and university lecturers have called mass rallies for Thursday in Athens and the northern city of Thessaloniki.
On Saturday, Education Minister Marietta Giannakou met with a council of university rectors, who advocate a compromise to the government proposals in a bid to end the months-long feud over the future of Greek higher education.
The main opposition Socialists support the proposed reforms, but smaller left-wing parties and some unions oppose them.
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