Universities ordered to enforce discipline

Workers overgarment the facade of the Athens' University Building connected October 15, 2024. [Petros Giannakouris/AP]

The Education Ministry has sent universities a caller circular outlining penalties for student misconduct and the disciplinary responsibilities of university authorities who neglect to use them.

The directive, signed by Deputy Education Minister Nikos Papaioannou, implements Law 5224 of 2025, which updates the '22 university law, and aims to extremity the long-standing tolerance toward violations connected campus.

Under the caller framework, students will beryllium required to wage for immoderate harm they origin to university property. In astir cases, the outgo will autumn to their parents. Disciplinary offenses see exam violations, plagiarism, demolition of movable oregon immovable university property, obstruction of university operations such arsenic sit-ins oregon disturbances astatine meetings, use of banned substances, and publication to their distribution.

Unauthorized use of university facilities, use of instrumentality for non-academic purposes, contamination oregon noise, and aiding transgression acts connected field are besides included.

Penalties vary according to the severity of the offense, ranging from written reprimands to imperishable expulsion. Sanctions whitethorn besides see bans from examinations, suspension of entree to facilities oregon equipment, and nonaccomplishment of student status for 1 to 24 months. Permanent expulsion is mandatory successful cases where a transgression condemnation is issued for violent acts under Article 168 of the Penal Code.

Disciplinary offenses expire aft 5 years, unless transgression proceedings are pending. Each disciplinary assembly will see a student typical elected electronically, though its validity remains if nary typical is chosen.

The circular besides establishes timelines for disciplinary procedures to forestall delays and “stalling tactics” by university authorities. By 2026, a integer level will run astatine the Education Ministry to show disciplinary cases and guarantee universities comply with the law. Rectors, deans, and section chairs will carnivore disciplinary work if they neglect to act.

Universities indispensable update their information plans by the extremity of December. Eight of the 23 institutions person done so, and measures such arsenic cameras, alarms, and turnstiles are expected to beryllium installed successful the archetypal fractional of 2026.

A abstracted circular will clarify procedures for assigning civilian liability and compensation for spot damage.