Cyprus-Forum.com

[Gasman]

Just before the last elections the Greek government announced that it was going to pay for every student entering the first year of junior high school (gymnasio) to have a laptop. Many, including myself, dismissed the move as yet another empty election promise made by a ruling party rapidly losing popular support. It seems that I was wrong about that as the first computers make their way into the hands of students I teach.

Despite this good news I think that the move is still little more than a publicity stunt and that in order for the country to drag it's antiquated education system out of the 19th century a lot more has to be done than dump a load of cheap netbooks onto the market. While providing students with PCs is an admirable thing, the policy, like so many educational polices before it is based on garnering good publicity rather than improving fundamentals. Greece's educational system is beset by a series of deeply rooted problems which are according to international organisations such as OECD seriously affecting the country's economic performance.

While Greek academics make much of the fact that the current system is based on humanist principles rather than market forces the reality of the situation is that it is a deeply unequal process whereby the the children of the poor are systematically weeded out due to the ever increasing need for pupils to undergo expensive extra tuition. A process which can start as young as seven years old and continue up to postgraduate level. The outcome is that huge amounts of talent are being ignored and wasted.

You can read the whole article here:

http://teacherdudebbq.blogspot.com/2009/10/greek-high-school-students-to-receive.html

And there are many more like it.

And their education system has been mentioned again and again in the reports about the current rioting over there.

[Gasman]

OECD
Economic Survey of Greece 2009: Raising education outcomes

http://www.oecd.org/document/33/0,3343, ... _1,00.html

Educational performance needs to be improved, with a focus on early education and care

High educational outcomes are of major importance for raising productivity and living standards in a world of increasing international competition. Despite progress over the past decades, educational attainment in most age groups in Greece is below the OECD average. In particular, participation rates in early childhood education and care, which can substantially improve outcomes in later years, are low, reflecting supply and quality problems as well as social preferences for home care. PISA scores are also weak, pointing to quality problems at primary and secondary levels. This is due to poor incentives for teachers and the lack of rigorous requirements for “in–service teacher training”, reinforced by shortcomings in the curricula of key competences. In view of these challenges, the government has intensified discussions on education reform with the aim of upgrading its quality.

[Paphitis]

Just before the last elections the Greek government announced that it was going to pay for every student entering the first year of junior high school (gymnasio) to have a laptop. Many, including myself, dismissed the move as yet another empty election promise made by a ruling party rapidly losing popular support. It seems that I was wrong about that as the first computers make their way into the hands of students I teach.

Despite this good news I think that the move is still little more than a publicity stunt and that in order for the country to drag it's antiquated education system out of the 19th century a lot more has to be done than dump a load of cheap netbooks onto the market. While providing students with PCs is an admirable thing, the policy, like so many educational polices before it is based on garnering good publicity rather than improving fundamentals. Greece's educational system is beset by a series of deeply rooted problems which are according to international organisations such as OECD seriously affecting the country's economic performance.

While Greek academics make much of the fact that the current system is based on humanist principles rather than market forces the reality of the situation is that it is a deeply unequal process whereby the the children of the poor are systematically weeded out due to the ever increasing need for pupils to undergo expensive extra tuition. A process which can start as young as seven years old and continue up to postgraduate level. The outcome is that huge amounts of talent are being ignored and wasted.

You can read the whole article here:

http://teacherdudebbq.blogspot.com/2009/10/greek-high-school-students-to-receive.html

And there are many more like it.

And their education system has been mentioned again and again in the reports about the current rioting over there.

As far as I am concerned, this is an excellent initiative that would benefit students. It is similar to another initiative introduced in Australia, where every Primary School student will be issued with a computer.

Once again, initiatives such as this can be funded provided Greece addresses other issues such as the over bloated Public Sector and tax evasion loop holes.

[Paphitis]

OECD
Economic Survey of Greece 2009: Raising education outcomes

http://www.oecd.org/document/33/0,3343, ... _1,00.html

Educational performance needs to be improved, with a focus on early education and care

High educational outcomes are of major importance for raising productivity and living standards in a world of increasing international competition. Despite progress over the past decades, educational attainment in most age groups in Greece is below the OECD average. In particular, participation rates in early childhood education and care, which can substantially improve outcomes in later years, are low, reflecting supply and quality problems as well as social preferences for home care. PISA scores are also weak, pointing to quality problems at primary and secondary levels. This is due to poor incentives for teachers and the lack of rigorous requirements for “in–service teacher training”, reinforced by shortcomings in the curricula of key competences. In view of these challenges, the government has intensified discussions on education reform with the aim of upgrading its quality.

Higher Education attainment amongst Greeks is one of the highest in the world, which does point to the fact that the Greek Education system is not in such a bad state. Most students are also enrolled in extra curricula studies at the parents expense which also place Greek youth under immense pressure, as education is something that is very important in Greek culture.

Education is not a factor in Greece's dire economic situation.

[Hatter]

OECD
Economic Survey of Greece 2009: Raising education outcomes

http://www.oecd.org/document/33/0,3343, ... _1,00.html

Educational performance needs to be improved, with a focus on early education and care

High educational outcomes are of major importance for raising productivity and living standards in a world of increasing international competition. Despite progress over the past decades, educational attainment in most age groups in Greece is below the OECD average. In particular, participation rates in early childhood education and care, which can substantially improve outcomes in later years, are low, reflecting supply and quality problems as well as social preferences for home care. PISA scores are also weak, pointing to quality problems at primary and secondary levels. This is due to poor incentives for teachers and the lack of rigorous requirements for “in–service teacher training”, reinforced by shortcomings in the curricula of key competences. In view of these challenges, the government has intensified discussions on education reform with the aim of upgrading its quality.

Higher Education attainment amongst Greeks is one of the highest in the world, which does point to the fact that the Greek Education system is not in such a bad state. Most students are also enrolled in extra curricula studies at the parents expense which also place Greek youth under immense pressure, as education is something that is very important in Greek culture.

Education is not a factor in Greece's dire economic situation.

I agree. Another example is Finland, which has a very enviable educational stndard, but experienced an unprecedented economic crisis in the 90s.

[Gasman]

But what I am reading is that those who are doing well are obtaining that education OUTSIDE of Greece.

They apparently have more students studying abroad than any other nation.

[Paphitis]

But what I am reading is that those who are doing well are obtaining that education OUTSIDE of Greece.

They apparently have more students studying abroad than any other nation.

No that's not entirely correct!

It works both ways because entry into the major Greek universities is highly competitive. Only the top students make it into the 2 highest ranked Greek Universities such as the University of Athens and The University of Thessaloniki.

Some students still choose to study overseas, whilst all those that don't get into the courses of their choice in Greece, are forced to go overseas.

Education is very important in Greek Culture, and this is why most people continue their education after High School and obtain tertiary degrees. Greek universities are unable to meet this heavy demand for tertiary education in Greece and hence many students go abroad.

The same thing occurs in Cyprus. The RoC now has 6 universities, many are still developing and have a lowly rank, and some degrees such as Medicine are not offered yet. Therefore, many Cypriots go abroad.

[Oracle]

Better Greek-Turkish ties depend on Cyprus solution


A real improvement in relations between Greece and Turkey depends on a successful outcome of efforts to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem, Cyprus President Demetris Christofias said Friday.

Christofias was commenting on a historic two-day visit to Athens by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that started Friday and was aimed at resolving issues that have soured relations between Greece and Turkey.

Christofias said that despite continuous efforts to improve relations between the two Aegean neighbors, significant differences still exist.

"I wish the visit will open the road to a real improvement in relations, always on the condition set out by Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou that there will be a solution of the Cyprus problem," Christofias said.

Papandreou, in an interview with the Turkish daily "Zaman" ahead of Erdogan's visit, said "Greece and Turkey will never be able to normalize their relations as long as there are ... occupation forces in Cyprus."

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of the island following a coup by a group of Greek officers.

Christofias, echoing Papandreou's statement, said that "as long as there are Turkish troops and an occupation of Cyprus, this will be an obstacle to a full and real improvement in the relations of the two countries."

He said he wished that there will be a good outcome to Erdogan's visit, "which will have a positive effect on the Turkish Cypriot leadership as regards the Cyprus problem and on Turkey's effort to join the European Union."

Christofias, acting as Greek Cypriot leader, has been long engaged in talks with moderate ex-Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat aimed at a Cyprus solution. However, Talat was replaced by right wing nationalist Dervis Eroglu after elections last month.

A new round of United Nations-supervised negotiations is set to start between Christofias and Eroglu on May 26.

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001 ... 86202.html

[CopperLine]

Better Greek-Turkish ties depend on Cyprus solution


A real improvement in relations between Greece and Turkey depends on a successful outcome of efforts to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem, Cyprus President Demetris Christofias said Friday.

Christofias was commenting on a historic two-day visit to Athens by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that started Friday and was aimed at resolving issues that have soured relations between Greece and Turkey.

Christofias said that despite continuous efforts to improve relations between the two Aegean neighbors, significant differences still exist.

"I wish the visit will open the road to a real improvement in relations, always on the condition set out by Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou that there will be a solution of the Cyprus problem," Christofias said.

Papandreou, in an interview with the Turkish daily "Zaman" ahead of Erdogan's visit, said "Greece and Turkey will never be able to normalize their relations as long as there are ... occupation forces in Cyprus."

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of the island following a coup by a group of Greek officers.

Christofias, echoing Papandreou's statement, said that "as long as there are Turkish troops and an occupation of Cyprus, this will be an obstacle to a full and real improvement in the relations of the two countries."

He said he wished that there will be a good outcome to Erdogan's visit, "which will have a positive effect on the Turkish Cypriot leadership as regards the Cyprus problem and on Turkey's effort to join the European Union."

Christofias, acting as Greek Cypriot leader, has been long engaged in talks with moderate ex-Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat aimed at a Cyprus solution. However, Talat was replaced by right wing nationalist Dervis Eroglu after elections last month.

A new round of United Nations-supervised negotiations is set to start between Christofias and Eroglu on May 26.

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001 ... 86202.html

What a dreadfully written article. For example,

Christofias, acting as Greek Cypriot leader, has been long engaged in talks with moderate ex-Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat aimed at a Cyprus solution. However, Talat was replaced by right wing nationalist Dervis Eroglu after elections last month.

Was Christofias pretending, acting or actually the Greek Cypriot leader ? I thought that Christofias was in fact the president of the Republic of Cyprus, not the leader of Greek Cypriots. And I think what was meant was 'talks with the moderate Turkish Cypriot ex-leader' since Talat is definitely not an ex-Turkish Cypriot.

[Acikgoz]

Someone did well on their GMAT verbal section....