Number of ‘eternal students’ doubles

Greek Reporter 03 March 2017

The number of the so-called eternal students in Greek universities and technical colleges has doubled since 2003, while one in 10 graduates migrates, writes Philip Chrysopoulos for the Greek Reporter.

According to Ministry of Education figures based on a study to assess the state of higher education and carve out a strategy for the next four years, in 2003 there were 163,037 students who were remaining registered without showing any inclination to graduate. In 2014, their number was doubled (328,742), mainly due to the economic crisis, education officials surmise.

Previous governments implemented laws that would stem the phenomenon in order to reduce the number of inactive students. However, the Syriza-ANEL administration repealed all pertinent bills and even allowed several eternal students to return. According to the study, one in 10 of those who graduate from Greek universities chooses to move abroad to work. Also, the study found that the Greek higher education system is not connected to the labour market, with campuses not allowing company representatives to enter the premises to recruit.
Full report on the Greek Reporter site

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