About 180,000 “eternal students” are facing expulsion from Greek universities according to the Minister of Education Andreas Loverdos, who announced that the relevant legislation would be implemented in the new academic year starting in September.
Mr. Loverdos explained that “since 2007 and 2011, university students who have not completed their studies while remaining registered at the institutions have been notified that they will be expelled in September 2014”. The Minister of Education claimed that the institutions have carried out additional examination periods in order to cover the needs of the “eternal students”, as they are often referred to in the media.
The effect of the “eternal students” varies from university to university; newer university departments have fewer such students, while courses not requiring laboratories and other specialist equipment are not burdened financially. The decision to implement the legislation will likely cause fierce reactions amongst students and the higher education institutions.
