Homework

Keep your eyes on Estonia in the coming year. Its ongoing efforts to make government more digital promise to guide similar pushes in other parts of the globe and lawmakers and regulators try to move away, as much as possible, from paper-based processes.

Primary school teachers have dismissed as a publicity stunt the Education Ministry's announced "Bag at School" scheme, which foresees children in Greece not being given any homework on one weekend per month so they can spend more time with their families.

The disputes between parents and teachers when it comes to what's best for children are a well-known phenomenon. Lately, homework has become the focus of European parents, but without necessarily having an impact on student progress.

Many pupils around Greece will be feeling deflated on Monday as they head back to school and renewed obligations after a carefree two-week break. It will be of little consolation to them that many Greek government officials are likely to share the same sense of disappointment and trepidation as they resume discussions with the country's creditors.