[MGSA-L] Bill allows closure of universities to cut spending

[June Samaras]

 http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_30/07/2012_454611

	
Bill allows closure of universities to cut spending

A bill tabled in Parliament on Monday paves the way for the government
to close down dozens of universities if it chooses to reduce public
spending in this manner.

A parliamentary committee will meet Tuesday to debate the draft law,
which is expected to pass through Parliament soon. According to the
wording of the bill, universities can be shut down “when this is in
agreement with the needs of the national economy.”

“It is impossible for a country [like Greece] with a population of 11
million people to afford about 40 universities when other countries,
such as Israel, have just seven or eight,” Education Minister Costas
Arvanitopoulos told Mega TV.

He did not unveil any specific plans for the closing down of institutions.

The bill also introduces some changes to the administration of
universities. This has caused some controversy as it reverses a number
of changes made last year, when a draft law introduced by
then-Education Minister Anna Diamantopoulou received overwhelming
parliamentary support.

The new law would allow rectors to stay in place with full
decision-making powers until August 2014, rather than have to give up
their position by the end of this August. The bill foresees new
university councils being formed by the end of this year but
consisting of existing employees at the institutions who are nominated
by the rector, rather than former academics appointed by the
government.

Some see the new bill as a major concession to university staff and
student unionists who had opposed Diamantopoulou’s law. She said that
the law was being changed because “some violent minorities and public
servants looking after their own interests do not want to implement
it.”
	
	
ekathimerini.com , Monday Jul 30, 2012 (22:21)

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June Samaras
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