Non-state HEIs: Fears, interpretations and the constitutionality debate through the public consultation – 2024-02-20 07:36:19

Over 1000 comments, 1000 anxieties given the reaction of students and senators on the matter, the public consultation of the bill to strengthen public universities and the establishment of non-state non-profit HEIs gathered, with the debate closing today, Sunday after Monday will take the path of the parliamentary process.

As follows, most of them deal with the constitutionality or otherwise of the bill, creating the conditions of a popular debate, the utility and purpose they will serve in society as a whole and whether their establishment is fair or not for the students who “bleed » in order to write high grades in the courses of the national universities at the moment when in the non-state HEIs the Minimum Entry Basis of the respective field to which the school belongs is sufficient.

Of course, the fear of the further discrediting of public universities that are already underfunded and operate under adverse conditions while maintaining a high level of teaching is also widespread.

Those who oppose the establishment of non-profit branches of foreign universities, as officially mentioned in the bill, invoke and try to interpret article 16 of the constitution where it is stated that “higher education is provided exclusively by institutions that are public legal entities”. “Article 16, paragraph 5 of the Constitution. You won’t respect that either?”, says Fani in her comment. In the same context, Vasia emphasizes that “how do you pass an unconstitutional law like this. Let there be a referendum.”

On the contrary, the advocates talk about the operation of branches of existing universities and not the establishment of new private schools, even citing the European legislation: “This bill does not establish new private schools but allows the operation of branches of universities that already exist and operate. In other words, the right to academic freedom and the establishment of private universities, which is an integral part of this freedom, is satisfied. These rights are part of the Charter of Human Rights which is EU law and which we must respect as an EU member state in accordance with Article 28 of the Constitution”, says Orestis in his comment. “The interpretation of the provision of Article 16 in accordance with European law does not prohibit the operation of branches of foreign universities. No new foreign universities will be created from scratch in Greece. I believe that the law is in accordance with the Constitution”, quotes Anna.

“Their establishment is meaningless”

Still others, apart from the constitutionality, do not find any use in their establishment: “the establishment of non-state universities is not only unconstitutional, but also meaningless for a country like Greece. The model of private universities has been tried and failed in countries such as Cyprus, but also other European countries. No serious European country is famous for its private universities. It would be preferable for the taxes paid by Greek citizens to be invested in education and the upgrading of public universities, in order for them to be attractive to Greeks and not just students,” explains Ilias.

Accordingly, Konstantinos considers that all that the ministry claims will be brought to non-state HEIs with the bill under discussion, public universities already have: “You tell us that private universities are initially aimed at attracting foreign students, that they will cover the increase in domestic demand for higher education and promise to “increase economic growth indicators through human capital, new knowledge, ideas and new technologies that will stay in the country”. But where do you live? Public universities already provide all of this and in fact need immediate support to continue and expand their actions.”

There are also voices that express fear of the discrediting of public HEIs, asking for their further strengthening: “We ask that the institution we studied in not be discredited due to the existence of a private one in its place”, underlines Ourania. “We ask the Greek state to practically support the public universities”, says Theodora

Some even go so far as to talk about the creation of class differences. e.g. in order to get into Medicine at a private university, one must have 0.8 on the average GPA of the 3rd scientific field in general (not Medicine), i.e. below 10,000 points, while through Panhellenic he must write at least 18,000 points. Indeed, if the student holds the International Baccalaureate-IB (given by some PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOLS of the country) enters a private HEI without having to catch this already low EBE (all that is sufficient is to allocate enough money). Doesn’t that make a class difference? Is it fair for those who bleed to pass with their merit in their schools?”

It is fair;