The inauguration was followed by the signing of the ten-year floor concession agreement by the President of the Limassol Greek Schools Ephorate, Dinos Ellinas and the President of the Management Committee of the French Cypriot school, Petros Iosifides.
In his welcome address,[/B] the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs,[/B] Prodromos Prodromou, expressed satisfaction and emotion that, after many efforts, another step towards closer relations between the two countries has become a reality.
The creation of the French Cypriot school in Limassol is important, he said, "because it implements a decision of the President of the Republic of Cyprus[/B] and the President of France[/B] and is the fruit of the continuous efforts of the two countries to strengthen our bonds of friendship, based on principles and values", indicating that education plays a leading role in defending and promoting these principles and values.
He added that the French Cypriot school in Limassol "is an example of the general long term planning in both education and culture between Cyprus and France", noting that relations between the two countries are at the highest level and continue to be upgraded.
"This move complements the decision taken in recent years to generalise the teaching of the French language in secondary education, complementing and supporting it, starting at an early age," he added.
Our common ambition, Prodromos Prodromou said, is for this school to be, not only a beacon of French-Cypriot educational cooperation and friendship, but above all a place that will give children the opportunities to develop their abilities and skills and prepare them adequately for the needs of the modern world and their further education.
He also recalled that the French Cypriot school in Nicosia is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year and noted that "we have been following with great satisfaction its progress and the increase in the number of students in recent years".
For her part, the French Ambassador, Salina Grenet-Catalano, welcomed the opening, since last September, of the French Cypriot school in Limassol, which, she pointed out, is part of a network of 566 French schools, outside France, in 38 countries.
The French Ambassador said that the operation of the branch of the French Cypriot school in Limassol is a collective success and was born from the vision of Presidents Anastasiades and Macron, "to bring our countries and our young people even closer together".
"It is also the fruit of the personal commitment of the Minister of Education and the Cypriot Government to multilingualism and greater openness to Europe and the world, for the youth and students of Cyprus, but also a sign of France's commitment, with the support of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, to French education in Cyprus," he added.
Salina Grenet-Catalano also said that attending the French Cypriot school allows children to attend all French schools in France and abroad, "which is a unique advantage".
At a time when the French Cypriot school in Nicosia is celebrating its 10th anniversary and continues to grow, she noted, "the opening of a second school in Limassol, considered the economic capital of Cyprus, demonstrates the increased interest in the French educational model in Cyprus and in the world, which is constantly growing."
The French Cypriot school in Limassol, which the Minister of Education and the French Ambassador have assured that they will support in every way, has so far about 11 children, in kindergarten and first grade of primary school.
Source: CNA
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