Costas Gavroglou

Former education minister Costas Gavroglou hailed a ruling by the Council of State which approved a change in the mission statement of the ministry as an "important day" for promoting the distinct roles of State and Church.

Greece's highest administrative court ruled that the Education and Religion Ministry does not violate the constitution by no longer including in its responsibilities "developing a student's religious conscience."

Flag-bearers in primary school parades on national holidays will no longer be selected by lot but on the basis of academic performance, according to new rules put forward by Greek Education Minister Niki Kerameus.

Greece's university rectors are concerned about the repercussions of the previous government's higher education overhaul, which is expected to result in the transfer of thousands of students to the country's biggest universities, Kathimerini understands.

Conservative Education Minister Niki Kerameus has vowed to scrap a measure introduced by her leftist predecessor for the flag-bearers in school parades on national holidays to be selected by lot rather than on the basis of academic performance.

Education Minister Niki Kerameus met on Wednesday with university rectors, launching a discussion on the government's plans to overhaul Greece's higher education system, rolling back changes introduced by the former leftist administration.

The inauguration of Athens' first official mosque appears to have been a pre-election stunt by the previous government as, Kathimerini has learned, the Religious Affairs Ministry has not yet assumed ownership of the building and the site will likely not operate before the year end. 

Following a contentious push by ruling SYRIZA to merge several technical colleges (TEIs) with universities to upgrade their status, Education Minister Costas Gavroglou proposed Friday that old TEI graduates should be allowed to sit exams to upgrade their existing degrees and equate them with those of universities.

Despite the criticism fueled by a flurry of public sector appointments and handouts heralded by the Greek government in recent weeks ahead of next month's early general election, Education Minister Costas Gavroglou Thursday sought approval for the appointment of thousands of new teachers over the next three years.

A teacher on the island of Rhodes who allegedly locked a primary school pupil in a classroom at the end of a lesson as a punishment has been dismissed, reports said on Monday.

The decision to dismiss the teacher was taken by Education Minister Costas Gavroglou after he was informed of the incident on June 7.