Kyriakos Pierrakakis: The 5-day suspension for bullying in schools is coming back – from September changes to many courses

The incidents in schools have increased dangerously lately with the Minister of Education heralding severe punishments. Kyriakos Pierrakakis, beyond bullying, spoke to Mega about Greek universities, and said that changes are coming in schools from next September. Regarding all and increasing and extremely worrying levels of juvenile crime, the minister said to Mega: “As far as bullying is concerned we see that throughout Europe but throughout the Western world as a whole – I would say – the phenomenon is intensifying. That’s why the state must intervene. Very soon we will have the incident tracking platform with surname complaints. Within this will be able the parent and the student from high school and above to report specific incidents and manage within the school unit. The first management of the incident will be within the school, but for the most severe incidents there will be scientific committees.” For Mr Pierrakakis a platform is not a policy and added: “There will be a national campaign and there will be a change in the context of consequences. The 5-day miscarriage for bullying in schools will come back. The second change is that the separation of absence into unjustified and justified will return. At the same time, as far as the perpetrator is concerned, there will be a facility for changing the school environment.” “The age of lawlessness in universities has passed” Mr Pierrakakis also commented on the attempted hoods to enter the AUTH with a chainsaw where there is a small nuclear reactor: “It’s an incident that happened months ago didn’t happen in the last few days. There’s a reactor for critical experiments, don’t imagine it’s something that could cause an explosion or a radiation leak. A lock was broken by some a few months ago, but the space is very well guarded with alarms.” And he stressed “the state and police intervene wherever and whenever necessary. The age of lawlessness without consequences in universities is over.” For the occupations made in Greek public universities and the consistency they had in the examination period the Minister of Education clarified that “95% of the departments of Greek universities the examination was done either by digital means or by normal”. Regarding police intervention in university institutions, Kyriakos Pierrakakis stressed: “The crucial thing is not whether university police or police intervene, but that we see something that was not happening a few years ago, because it was taboo. And I think that’s exactly what society is asking for and that will ultimately preserve the Greek university from all those who are doing so.” Asked for appointment of teachers in schools replied Kyriakos Pierrakakis: “In recent years – last 4 years to say it roughly – there have been more permanent appointments and this has come to reverse a situation that existed at the time of the memorials. Secondly, a very large number of deputies are concerned with special treatment and I consider it a very important initiative. The government’s strategic direction is turning many deputies into permanent appointments.” “ 60% of Greek academics are abroad and start their own universities for here” The Minister for Education also spoke about the establishment of foreign universities and specifically asked which universities abroad have expressed interest. “Several universities in Europe and America have stated interest. In this I would like to hold another piece: not to underestimate the Greeks of diaspora. Whatever interest has arisen, which is great, is all by Greek academics abroad. 60% of Greek academics are abroad, where they start their own universities.” And the Minister completed: “The goal is to be able to say ten major universities abroad created common masters with Greek public universities on the one hand, and on the other hand we have annexes to ten major universities that with very strict standards settled in our country.” With regard to the place of creation of the annexes of foreign universities and in particular the case where most will choose Athens and perhaps not the Region, Mr Pierrakakis noted: “The first articles of the law we brought to Parliament, magnify the Democritus University, making it essentially the country’s 3rd university. The second is that the prime minister announced the increase in housing allowance especially for the universities of the District and thirdly within the law on the establishment of annexes we also put a regional incentive.” In conclusion, Kyriakos Pierrakakis also made a report on the case of emails to immigrants and Anna Michel Asimakopoulou saying “there was political responsibility in this matter and a central investigation took place.” “Big changes will generally come to school. Since September our students will see changes in many courses. In fact, in a few weeks digital strengthening teaching begins,” the Minister of Education noted.