Greece: Students Wait for Reform

Abstract

The academic tradition is a glorious one and began not incidentally with the liberation from the Turks almost one hundred and fifty years ago. But the glory of tradition becomes a burden when the current challenge must be met. In 1973 the students of Athens resisted the rule of the junta and with their revolt paved the way for democracy. The students of 1981 expect a major reform of higher education and are demanding better educational opportunities in order to hold their own under the conditions of the industrial age and EEC [European Economic Community—Common Market] competition. Will the victor in the elections, Papandreou, be able to keep his promises and initiate the reform of higher education?