Tsipras Pledges Higher Teacher Pay, Abolition of Greek University Entrance Exams

Alexis Tsipras, leader of Greece's opposition, has outlined key commitments for the education sector, vowing to increase what he described as "undignified" wages for educators and abolish the high-stakes national university entrance examinations. Tsipras presented his proposals in response to a question from a special education teacher regarding his vision for the educational system.

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For seven years now, our educators have been devalued, and public schools and public universities have been degraded in order to make room for speculation.

Tsipras criticized the current government's seven-year tenure, asserting that educators have been devalued and public schools and universities have been downgraded to make way for profit-driven ventures. He cited the example of a law school established in Patras in 2018, which he claimed was abolished by the current government in 2019, only for three private law schools to be established later. "One public law school didn't fit, but three private ones do. This is their hypocrisy, this is their philosophy," Tsipras stated, arguing that initiatives with social benefit are eliminated while private profit is favored.

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We will increase the undignified and shameful salaries of educators in primary and secondary education, in kindergarten, primary school, middle school, and high school.

His proposed reforms include a significant increase in the salaries of primary and secondary school teachers, aiming to provide them with a living wage. He also pledged to offer financial incentives for educators working in border regions or areas with acute housing problems. A central promise is the abolition of the Panhellenic Examinations, which he argued create immense stress and pressure during adolescence, transforming high school from a space of creation into a mere "examination antechamber" for higher education.

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We will abolish the national examinations. A system that has created terrible anxiety, pressure during the most beautiful age, adolescence, and has turned high school from a place of creation into an examination antechamber for higher education.

Furthermore, Tsipras plans to introduce two-year post-high school technical training programs and enhance technical education within universities, in collaboration with market stakeholders. He also proposed splitting the Ministry of Education into two, creating a new Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Higher Education to place greater emphasis on research and young researchers. The overarching goal, he stated, is to restore the value of knowledge and ensure education is a right for all.

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One public law school didn't fit, but three private ones do. This is their hypocrisy, this is their philosophy. Anything that has social benefit is abolished. Anything that has private profit is favored.