It is with great pleasure and satisfaction that we are here today at the Severio Library, for the presentation of the full-day program of the Gymnasium Cycle that operates at the Pancyprian Gymnasium. The Program started this school year 2021-22 with the first grade and will be extended to the second grade in the new school year.
In this case we have combined here at the Pancyprian Gymnasium both the effort to upgrade the school itself, along with the decision to operate as a sixth form secondary school without a geographical region, i.e. reconnecting it with its legacies and historical past, and the innovation and trial implementation of the all-day Gymnasium.
This is an innovation programme in the public school, which is being piloted this year, with a view to studying the possibilities of gradually extending it to other secondary schools. The creation of the Programme, which was approved by the Council of Ministers last March, is independent of the timetable of morning classes. It is offered daily after the completion of the morning cycle at 1.35 pm, and is based on a curriculum of a completely different basis and philosophy from that of the rest of the High School curriculum.
Specifically, the programme is based on two axes, which operate in parallel and aim to cultivate and strengthen skills that are essential in modern times. The first axis concerns the STEAM methodology and the second the teaching of the Greek language and Greek culture. STEAM is an interdisciplinary approach, which uses Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics as access points for the cultivation of research, dialogue and critical thinking in students.
The aim of STEAM is to interconnect knowledge and skills from different disciplines, solve complex problems, find creative and innovative solutions, cultivate communication and collaboration skills, develop entrepreneurial thinking, emotional intelligence and leadership skills, the ability to argue and present ideas to an audience.
The teaching of the Greek Language and Greek Culture involves both the study and use of our language in its timeless presence and the study of the intellectual, material, historical and artistic achievements of Greeks in Greece, Cyprus and the world.
Through these, the Programme aims to improve the quality of written and spoken language, its use in a clear, correct and scientific way, the critical approach to texts, the application of the basic principles of investigating a topic and presenting the results, the organisation of participation in Competitions and Conferences with original creations.
The Programme, which started this year with the participation of 34 students from various primary schools in Nicosia in the first grade, was embraced with great success. The children soon adapted to the standards and requirements of their teachers, while the benefits of attendance gradually began to be visible in all their lessons.
In fact, I have already been informed, on a previous visit, about the 2nd quarter program that includes the Robotics experience with the design and construction of an autonomous, driverless, racing car model.
The expansion of the Full Day Gymnasium to the 2nd grade in 2022-23 coincides with the transfer of the Music Gymnasium from the Acropolis Gymnasium to the Pancyprian Gymnasium. This will give our young musicians the opportunity for six years of study in the same place, resulting in a more complete development of their musical studies.
The implementation of these new policies at the Pancyprian Gymnasium is directly intertwined with the completion - expected to take place within a few weeks - of the third phase of the building upgrade and renovation of the school's premises and the Severio Library. With the completion of the works, which have been in progress for the last six years, the Pancyprian Gymnasium is being expanded, modernized and acquires the best in terms of facilities and technological equipment, comparable to its historical course and its great contribution to Greek letters and Greek education in Cyprus. At the same time, these new policies, as well as other targeted measures both in the Pancyprian and in primary schools in the area, aim at strengthening these schools and at the social upgrading of the centre of Nicosia.
We hope that the Pancyprian Gymnasium, both in the middle and high school cycle, will continue to develop and produce students who are competent, equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills and life attitudes, ready to excel in Cypriot society, as its thousands of students have done so far.
Finally, I will refer to the planning that will be implemented immediately afterwards, in the next period, for the creation and operation of a Centre for Classical Studies and Greek Language, for the high school age groups, which will be based here at Pancyprium and Severio, but will be addressed to all high schools in the Nicosia region.
My sincere thanks to the children themselves and their families for participating in this pioneering programme. Of course, we also thank the Pancyprian Gymnasium and the Director, as well as the Ephorate of Greek Schools of Nicosia, but especially our teachers who voluntarily give life to this planning and pave the way.
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