Androulakis: Government's bill on universities 'a fake reform' that doesn't solve the problems

"The founding of non-state, non-profit branches of foreign universities that the ruling majority is voting for is a fake reform that does not provide an overall answer to the impasses facing public education in our country at all levels," opposition PASOK-Movement for Change leader Nikos Androulakis said in his address to parliament on Friday, the last day of the debate on the proposed bill. He made it absolutely clear that PASOK will not vote on this "fake reform" in principle.

"We do not trust that you really intend to strengthen state education and public universities. We don't believe that your plan aims at the foundation of truly non-state, non-profit universities that will contribute to an overall improvement of education in Greece," Androulakis said, and questioned the reliability of the government and the prime minister, asserting that they were "legislating in accordance to the suggestions...of specific funds who have already invested in Greece months ago," and dubbing this process "reforms".

He explained that for PASOK, state education was a key mechanism of upward social mobility and a lever of transition to the new era of scientific and technological breakthroughs.

"We will not give a 'carte blanche' because PASOK, as an alternative governance proposal, guarantees that the foundation of non-state, non profit universities can be done differently, it can be done in the right way and must be done in the right way. In the interests of the middle strata of society who want their children to have access to quality education and to avoid creating new inequalities," Androulakis said.