06-07-16 Education ministry reviews at private secondary schools

The education ministry’s competent directorates will proceed with an immediate review of the founding permits for private junior high schools (gymnasiums) and private highschools  (lyceums), according to a directive of the ministry’s Directorate of Studies.

The Directorates of Secondary Education must examine whether the legal framework of operation of a school, as well as its title and name, are in accord with the school’s state-issued operating permit.

In cooperation with the public tax and insurance bureaus that audit private schools, the Directorates of Education must determine the following:

1. Whether private secondary schools in the region under their purview, whose owners were missing either tax or insurance clearance, and which were issued permits under law 4093/2012, as amended by law 4264/2014 and then replaced by law 4278/2014, later received a permit under new owners, who submitted the necessary documentation and are operating at the same address with the same students.
2. Whether the new owners are spouses or relatives up to the second degree with the former owners.
3. If the legal framework under which the school is operating – regarding taxation and insurance – is in accord with the terms of the state permit of operation. Should the school owners apply to change the legal status of the school after the ministry decision to issue a permit, this must be taken into account and reported.
4. If during the audit violations of law are established, they must immediately follow all the relevant legal provisions.
5. If violations found are beyond the remit of the auditors, the relevant information must be sent to the education ministry, which will undertake a disciplinary review.

The Directorates of Secondary Education are obliged to conduct reviews at private gymnasiums and lyceums under their purview, both day and evening schools, and to send a report to the competent ministry bureau by July 31, 2016.