ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek authorities have removed more than 300,000 inactive university students from public university records. The move announced on Friday nearly halves Greece’s official student population. The move ends a decades-old policy that allowed extended enrollment and long study breaks. The practice was abolished under recent legislation. The Education Ministry said that more than 308,000 students admitted before 2017 were affected. About 35,000 successfully reapplied for reenrollment in 2025. Officials argue the reform improves planning, academic quality and international rankings. Critics say it fails to account for disruptions caused by Greece’s financial crisis.
(Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
