I feel particularly happy today, because the building we are inaugurating is an important milestone in the educational events of our country, since it comes to strengthen in the most appropriate way the institution of vocational education and training in Cyprus, were the words with which the President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades, began his address at the inauguration of the Post-secondary Institute of Vocational Education and Training in Limassol.
He added that this is an absolutely necessary institution that must combine education with the needs of the market.[/B] "An institution that was necessary to revive what, unfortunately, with the abolition of the ATI programme, had created some gaps in higher education in relation to the needs of the market."
"This ultra-modern, impressive building", he added, "which we are inaugurating both as the administrative headquarters of the MIEEK and for the teaching of their programmes has been built after the noble donation of 10 million, so far only 8.5 million have been spent., of the absolute charitable trust, whom I thank on behalf of myself and the state."
President Anastasiades recalled that "six years ago, when the donor and founder of the organization approached me expressing his admiration for what we as the Republic of Cyprus, as a government, had achieved in dealing with the crisis, and told me that he was ready to make a donation of 10 million euros, so that the Government could choose what it would pay attention to, I said that for me the abolition of the ATI has always been a mistake. Therefore, the opportunity is being given to build a school of higher technical education that can meet the needs of the modern labour market." "Thus," he added, "and with his consent, it was decided to donate to the Republic of Cyprus for the construction of this state-of-the-art school designed by the trustees of the trust with the only concession from the state being the land. Some problems were encountered in finding land, but thanks to the cooperation with the Municipality of Germasogeia and the relevant government departments, it was possible today to witness a new foundation in terms of higher technical education."
He went on to say that he cannot but feel happy because "we are realizing a vision that concerns our young people, their technical education, the opportunity that will be given to them in a better and more effective way to respond to the needs of the market and this is what the absolute charitable trust has offered through its donation, which is why I believe that it is now rightly called absolute institute of technical education".
Referring to MIEEK, he said that "with the plethora of programmes they offer, they contribute significantly to the reduction of unemployment through offering quality but flexible programmes of study in areas where there is a high demand in the labour market. I don't know if there is a greater or more necessary offer to young people to have them scientifically trained so that they can respond to the real needs of the modern market. I consider what we are launching today to be a project of the utmost importance, and I hope and I am sure that it will respond precisely to the needs of our young people. It gives another dimension to technical education."
"Previously, I was at the foundation of the Second Technical School and it is no coincidence that our city is also home to the TEPAK, whose programmes have to do precisely with technical education or part of it and with technical education," the President of the Republic said. According to Nicos Anastasiades, "what we are inaugurating today is the antechamber for those who wish to continue, but the most important thing is that the graduates of the Institute will have all the comfort of direct employment."
In conclusion, he expressed his special joy "because I am the one who inaugurates, the one who accepted the proposal and the one who implemented the proposal".
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
