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It is with great pleasure that I am with you tonight, at the Award Ceremony of the Student Essay Contest of the Sixth class of Primary Schools, to the students who last year, as seniors, participated and excelled in this now well-established annual competition. The competition was announced for the second year by the Embassy of Greece in Cyprus and was organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth.
In this beautiful and symbolic place, we are all here to honour, in a simple but powerful way, as befits such events, the success and excellence of our children. Success reflects our children's interest and love for the Greek language, but also their desire for infinite knowledge and beneficial learning.
The competition reinforces the efforts of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth to create democratic and critically-minded active citizens, who through education, culture and sports, will be distinguished by the principles, values, knowledge and skills promoted through the plan to restructure our educational system, as documented in the Governance Programme.
The establishment of the "Hellenic Embassy Student Essay Contest", for students of the 6thth grade, is linked to the corresponding contest which was established in the school year 1976-1977 and has been held continuously, annually, as a result of the initiative of the Embassy of Greece in Cyprus and the close cooperation it has maintained with our Ministry over the years. In the last two years, as a result of the positive results of the Competition, the institution has been further consolidated, addressing also the children of the 6th class of primary schools
, with appropriate adjustments to their age and learning level.
The already close and fruitful cooperation between the Ministry and the Embassy of Greece in Cyprus is strengthened through the Competition. The common goal of upgrading the teaching and cultivation of the Greek language and the promotion of Greek education is achieved in a pedagogical and learning benefit for our graduating students. Through their participation, they have the opportunity to develop positions and opinions on a specific topic concerning the Greek language and related to Greek, European and world culture, both temporally and chronologically. In addition, our students have the opportunity to study and reflect on broader issues of Hellenism. In this context, their value, cognitive, critical, reading and writing skills are developed and expanded and the national, historical, cultural and emotional ties between Cyprus and Greece are highlighted.
In the school year 2022-2023, the general thematic cycle of the Competition was related to a very interesting, important and topical issue, the importance of the return of the Parthenon sculptures to Greece.
In the school year 2022-2023, the general thematic cycle of the Competition was related to a very interesting, important and topical issue, the importance of the return of the Parthenon sculptures to Greece.
In the school year 2022-2023, the general thematic cycle of the Competition was related to a very interesting, important and topical issue, the importance of the return of the Parthenon sculptures to Greece. The speech of the late Melina Mercouri, who, expressing the beliefs of an entire nation, said: "The Parthenon Marbles are our pride, they are our sacrifices. They are the noblest symbol of perfection. They are a tribute to the democratic philosophy. They are our ambitions and our very name. It is the essence of Hellenism."
The seriousness and responsibility shown by our senior students in their essay speech, the thoughts, ideas and opinions they presented, responding to the subject matter, deserve every praise and recognition. With coherent arguments, they wrote a structured speech, making use of the richness of the Greek language and demonstrating, among other things, their readiness for the transition to high school. Richness and originality of ideas, effective organization of content, linguistic excellence in terms of vocabulary, grammar, syntax and spelling, as defined by the 6th grade Greek syllabus, especially with regard to the substantiation of arguments and the cultivation of critical thinking, were reflected in the essays of our winning children and those who participated in the Competition.
I would like to thank the principals and teachers of our schools, who supported our students and participated in the in-school evaluation committees of the essays. I congratulate the Directorate of Primary Education for its entire contribution to the successful organisation and conduct of the competition. I would like to thank the members of the Jury of the Competition, and especially Mrs. Irini Chatzilouka-Mavris, for their methodical and objective approach to the task they undertook, as well as all those who, with their valuable contribution, contributed to the institutionalization, establishment and successful conduct of the Competition.
But tonight is the night of our children!
Dear children, tonight is a reward for your outstanding performance and the effort you have put in. Tonight we honour you and, in your person, we honour your proud family and your teachers who have guided and encouraged you on this journey. A journey that, I am sure, will continue with the same and even greater success, with the same dedication and belief in yourselves.
Participating in competitions, without being an end in itself, not only tests your knowledge and skills, but fosters a spirit of healthy competition and self-improvement, as a testament to your commitment to learning, your resilience in the face of challenges and your determination to excel. May your distinction in the 6th grade Greek Embassy Student Essay Contest be a reminder of your potential and a source of inspiration as you continue to conquer your dreams. Stay curious, keep exploring and never run out of passion for learning and knowledge. You, the younger generation, are the beacon and guide for all our efforts towards an upgraded, modern, learner-centered school. You are the future creators of our society and we have great faith in your abilities to co-create a better future, the Tomorrow of our country. I am truly proud of each and every one of you!
IP
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Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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