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It gives me great pleasure to address the 6th House of Young Representatives, which is co-organised by the Cyprus Youth Council and the Cyprus Youth Diplomacy Organisation. I thank the organisers for the invitation and congratulate them for the zeal and dedication they have shown in establishing the House of Young Representatives as a successful institution.
The House of Young Representatives gives young people the opportunity to express their views on a wide range of issues that concern them and enjoys the full and unreserved support of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth. Both in terms of process and outcome, this institution makes a substantial contribution to the development of a democratic culture among young people. The active participation of young people in activities simulating the parliamentary process helps them to understand the role of Parliament in the decision-making process and to develop democratic skills and sensibilities. At the same time, by promoting the results of the work of the Parliament of Young Representatives in the relevant Ministries and in the services of the wider public sector, young people are given the opportunity to influence, through their intervention, the decision-making centres. The views of our young MPs are valuable, as they help us to shape policies by listening to the concerns and aspirations of the new generation, those young people who are already active citizens of our society.
Dear young people,
You, the young generation, certainly deserve a better world, a greener, more inclusive, fairer, more meritocratic world. A world that provides equal opportunities for all and is based on the principles of democracy and justice. As a State, we are determined to work methodically and collectively to implement policies that will improve our country and contribute to the well-being of all. As the Ministry responsible for education and youth, our vision is to empower our young people to reach their full potential and actively participate in all aspects of social, economic and political life in our country.
We are in a constant effort to implement reforms in order to upgrade the services we offer to children, young people and youth and society in general. Our reforms are aimed at modernising our policies, upgrading structures and improving infrastructure. We are shaping a modern, democratic, inclusive school that can provide quality education for all, without exclusion. We are integrating new modern technologies into education and strengthening students' digital and green skills. We are upgrading facilities with modern equipment. We enhance the quality and attractiveness of Technical and Vocational Education and Training. We exploit European resources and design updated curricula. We offer opportunities for staff training. We strengthen and internationalise higher education in Cyprus, making Cyprus a hub of knowledge and innovation.
Alongside the reforms in the Education sector, we actively support the Youth sector. The Youth Agency has taken a central role in the preparation of the 2nd National Youth Strategy, which will horizontally encompass all issues concerning our young people. The results of this effort will become visible in the near future.
Consultation is the cornerstone of our efforts. We support any activity that gives a voice to young people and the Youth Parliament is one of the most important activities of this kind. I know that in this year's Youth Parliament there has been a Parliamentary Committee on Education, which has discussed the issue of 'Restructuring curricula to promote autonomous and experiential learning, to cultivate basic skills such as critical and creative thinking and to get rid of rote learning'. In parallel, discussions were held in other Committees, covering topics such as mental health and youth. I look forward with great interest to hearing about the findings of these discussions, as their themes are key priorities for our Ministry and this input is of direct interest to us.
I wish you a good continuation of the work of the House of Young Representatives and warmly congratulate you once again, for your commitment, enthusiasm and inspiration!
IP
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