Thousands of pupils, students and teachers gathered in Athens and other Greek cities to protest the establishment of private universities on Thursday.
Protesters marched from the University of Athens to Syntagma Square chanting slogans and holding banners for a “free education for all,” and Education is “Not for Sale.”
Teachers and professors held a three-hour work stoppage in order to be able to participate in the rally.
The big protest was peaceful until a group of estimated 50 people set garbage bins on fire, damaged some shop windows and clashed with police near the Polytechnic University.
Protest rallies were also held in Thessaloni where local media thesstoday.gr reported that Police monitored the rally with portable cameras.
Student are determined to continue their protests with rallies and occupations of universities.
There would be no need for private education if the state schools performed properly. Education and health state sectors are disgraceful.
Private universities are available in all advanced countries. Whoever wants free education can join any of the numerous public universities of Greece, others can join private universities. Greeks public universities world rank is way below many of the private universities out there, paying tuition fee does not mean that that the level of education is low.