Ban on private universities does not serve the underprivileged

The government's insistence on refusing to allow private universities to operate in Greece not only defies international trends, but is also unreasonable from an economic and social point of view.

It is even more irritating when we look at Cyprus and see the benefits it has reaped from giving private universities the green light. It has brought thousands of foreign students to Cyprus who are boosting the economy and the country's human capital, and at the same time created new job opportunities for educators and academics while compelling public universities to step up their game or lose to the competition.

Even if we look at the issue from the perspective of social justice, banning private universities doesn't do anything for the have-nots anyway. Children from well-to-do families will most likely study abroad come what may, usually in the USA, but also in some...