The Greek state education system is set for a major investment boost for the second year running after the annual budget proposed an 8.4 percent increase in spending. The budget, set for ratification in November, comes in the face of global economic uncertainty brought on by September 11 attacks on the US.

On October 1, then-Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou presented the 2002 budget to parliament's Financial Affairs Committee. Factoring in economic uncertainty two scenarios were worked into the budget: an optimistic one with a 4.6% GDP growth and a less ambitious version with 4% or less growth.

Both proposals, however, stipulate a rise in education spending. More specifically it earmarks an 8.4% increase in education spending - a rate comparable to last year's 8.8% rise.

The education plan
The proposed budget, which will be revised by late November, allocates 4.26 million euros to educational reform and existing programmes. Funds will be absorbed by:
** Salaries: There will be 4,110 new full-time and 4,563 new substitute teachers in primary and secondary schools.
** Higher education: A controversial new policy placing Technological Educational Institutes (TEI) diplomas on par with those of universities (AEI, or Higher Education Institutes) has its financial costs. While funding for the universities will increase 11.3%, TEI budgets will increase by 20.1%. It must be noted that 86 new university and technical schools/departments were formed in 2000/2001.
** Secondary/vocational schools: A new support programme for secondary school students and ten new TEE (Technical and Vocational Institutions) will combat drop-out rates and offer entry into the workplace.
** IKY (Institute of Social Scholarships): These scholarships have increased exponentially in the last two years.
**All-day schools: To help out working moms, 331 nursery and 500 elementary schools will operate a full day (as opposed to just mornings/ afternoons) next to the existing 28 such schools.
** Counselling/arts: The budget provides for increased student counselling and cultural events.
** Archives/libraries: Government archives and libraries will be stocked with new teaching materials.
** Special needs: 22 new special needs centres and 50 new school programmes for students with special educational needs will be established.

Budgetary priorities
Greece's planned 2002 budget (in euros only) is a frugal one aiming at keeping growth up and reducing public debt to 96% of the country's GDP. In it government spending is set to increase by between 5.7% and 6.1%. Yet despite the stabilising role of steady oil prices and a strong euro, the crisis could cost between 146 million and 282 million euros. Just the same, Papantoniou was adamant that social, programmes, civil servant wages, pensions and the 2004 Olympics budget not be pared down.

Long-term plans
Regardless of what shape the 2002 budget ultimately assumes, the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs had already revealed dramatic plans for the upcoming six years last May. It unveiled a 3.2-billion-euros plan for education, 75% of which would be provided by European Union funds.

This programme would include the establishment of 20 institutions for continuing education (for those over 25 years of age) as well as 85 higher education and 11 post-graduate programmes (AEI and TEI). On the TEE front, 880 shops will be created where students will "sell" their products. The programme would increase IEK (Institutes of Education and Preparation) student numbers from 45,000 to 130,000.

In the meantime, in all levels of education, programmes will be created to address cultural and language barriers, learning problems and drop-out risks. There will also be funding for libraries and materials. In 2001 the Ministry of Education also announced that 26 million euros would be invested in new school buildings between 2001 and 2006.

Meanwhile - while fiery debates over changes in TEI status, university entrance exams and educational reform show no sign of abetting - the 2001 school year opened with some visible change: new textbooks for dozens of schools and a programme aiming to make 75,000 teachers computer literate. For the latter, teachers were offered the generous prize of a new computer if they participated in a 100-hour-plus seminar.