From talk to results

The official launch of the so-called Committee of National and Social Dialogue on Education on Monday was marked by weighty proclamations on the need for radical reforms and talk of ambitious new plans for the country’s entire education system.

However, it is not at all clear what the education minister – or the government in general for that matter – has in mind when making these announcements about reforms, or what the actual objectives may be. It is especially unclear given SYRIZA’s history in the opposition, when it resisted every effort at shaking up the education system, and now, in government, having undone any positive steps that had been made.

Despite the doubts that people may have expressed regarding the leftist party’s track record with education reforms, we should await results from the committee before we start to criticize it.

That said, the government should also clarify exactly how this committee will work to bring about tangible results.