Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki responded to announcements issued by PASOK and SYRIZA regarding the National Education Dialogue, emphasizing that “the country needs a national diploma with lasting validity and social acceptance. This will not be achieved through exchanging press releases, but through substantial participation at the dialogue table. The responsibility for participation belongs equally to all of us.”
“Just hours before the first meeting of the National Education Dialogue Committee for the new high school and national diploma, I note with regret that opposition parties are presenting superficial objections that were not raised during the recent meeting of the Parliamentary Education Committee, where I presented the dialogue framework,” noted Ms. Zacharaki, adding that within the parliamentary procedure, there was positive response to the invitation for National Dialogue.
The Education Minister clarified that the National Education Dialogue is organized “with institutional seriousness, transparency and substantial participation by all.” “The allegations of a ‘national monologue’ and the ‘ultimatum’ to withdraw the Committee to supposedly start dialogue from scratch indicate political helplessness and primarily insult the members and mission of the Committee,” Ms. Zacharaki emphasized.
Furthermore, the Education Minister noted that the National Dialogue Committee constitutes the “scientific body for processing proposals,” where political parties will present their positions which will be evaluated by the committee.
“The National Dialogue Committee does not replace Parliament, nor political dialogue. The dialogue within the Committee framework is open and institutionally guaranteed. The participation of representatives of directors, educators, parents and students will be organized by the National Dialogue Committee itself. Through thematic invitations and hearings – a practice followed in previous dialogues, including those referenced by PASOK. Additionally, there will be open electronic consultation on a dedicated platform,” Ms. Zacharaki emphasized. Finally, she stated that the invitation to participate remains “open, sincere and without pretexts” for all political parties.
National diploma dialogue begins
The first meeting of the extensive National Education Dialogue Committee took place in the presence of Sofia Zacharaki. As announced by the ministry, the meeting was held behind closed doors in a building of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Goudi.
This is the committee that will be chaired by University of Piraeus Rector Emmanuel Sfakianakis, which has undertaken to discuss based on the proposal submitted by the Education Minister last week to the Parliament’s Permanent Education Committee.
As a reminder, based on what has already been announced, the five basic pillars on which the National Dialogue will be based are:
– Educational content, “so that all children have access to a strong, common core of knowledge and skills.”
– School life, “because school is not just curriculum and exams, but a community where every child has the right to participate equally, learn and develop as a personality.”
– Teacher training, “with unified, continuous and substantial support for their work.”
– Infrastructure (school and digital), “ensuring equal opportunities wherever a child lives.”
– System governance, “with clear roles, accountability and institutional continuity.”
