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- Ελληνικά
Today is a special day for the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, as through the PEDIA programme another vision for the education of our country begins to materialise. The implementation of the PEDIA programme, taking this symbolic name from the initials of the English words Promoting Energy efficiency & Developing Innovative Approaches in schools, began in 2018, contributing to the achievement of important reforms and policies linked to the qualitative upgrading of our Education. It is the first programme that reflects with concrete measures and measurable results the effort that Cyprus is making, at the education level, towards the green transition and sustainable development.
As stated in the Governance Programme, the design and implementation of a comprehensive and horizontal strategy for the protection of the environment is an important priority of the Government. Our aim is not only to adopt a holistic strategy as a country, but also to implement model green policies that ensure the well-being of citizens in sustainable cities and communities.
The Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth is the institution through which Education for Sustainable Development is translated into action. Through integrated planning and investing in the very quality of the school environment, we systematically and consistently implement the integrated Strategic Plan for Education, Sustainable Development and the Green Transition.
The actions of this planning are reflected, on several levels, in a series of measures, such as, for example, the integration of the Curriculum of Education for Sustainable Development in all levels of education, the completion of the State Network of Environmental Education Centres, the creation of a permanent horizontal structure for Environmental and Sustainable Development Education, the leading role of Cyprus in relevant issues at regional and international level, the promotion of sustainable schools, the revision of education and training programmes and the creation of integrated tools for Sustainable Development objectives. The actions and policies that Cyprus has promoted in this field have highlighted our country as a model, ranking it at the top in the European Commission's recent assessment of the integration of Education for Sustainable Development in the education policies of the Member States of the European Union.
The PEDIA Programme reflects a key priority of the Ministry in relation to the new revised Strategic Framework for the Green Transition and Education for Sustainable Development 2030, which is the qualitative upgrade of school buildings and the creation of a healthy school environment that will provide children with opportunities for integrated physical, emotional, mental and social development.
Today we are at the 2nd primary school of Idaliou, one of the first five schools whose buildings have been upgraded to near-zero energy buildings through the implementation of modern systems and "green" technological solutions, landscaping of the school space, as well as qualitative improvement of technical and other functions. The other four model schools are the secondary school of Agios Dometios, the primary school of Agios Trimithias, the sixth kindergarten of Aglantzia and the kindergarten of Agios Antonios. All these five schools were designed in such a way that the school buildings themselves, beyond being near-zero energy buildings, will become key pedagogical tools for formal and non-formal education.
At the same time, we have proceeded, together with the Cyprus Energy Office, to launch the tenders for the transformation, before the end of the year, of the next five schools, which will be upgraded to near-zero energy buildings. These schools are the Acropolis, Stavros and Sias Primary Schools in the Nicosia District, the Kataris Primary School and the Agioi Anargyroi Kindergarten in Larnaca.
PEDIA is a flagship project for Cyprus and a benchmark for Europe. It is a project which has been included in the Thaleia programme, drawing from it 20 million, with which the first 25 schools will be completed. Today is the first important milestone for the project not only because the first five schools with almost zero energy consumption are a reality, but also because, according to the Energy Performance Certificates issued for the above schools, significant savings of 53% to 82% in energy consumption are achieved.
Of course, the upgrading of schools should not be measured and evaluated solely by energy savings, but also by the improvement of the quality and thermal comfort of their interiors. You will also have the opportunity to see this result through the tour that will follow.
I would not like to go any further, because we will have the opportunity to find out more in detail later on. Allow me, before I conclude my statement, to mention that PEDIA is a project of collective responsibility, joint effort and institutional memory for the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth. A painstaking and very difficult project in its planning, embraced by the educational community, parents, children and all social partners. When the idea of implementing PEDIA was initially launched in 2018, many may not have believed that we could pull it off. And yet with collective effort and systematic action, this project is now a reality. This is largely due to the consistency and continuity, commitment and cooperation that exists between all the collaborating agencies, with the Cyprus Energy Office as a key player.
Present at today's press conference, and I thank them, are the former Directors General of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, Mr Cyprus Kyprianou and Mr Neophytos Papadopoulos, who successively supported the project during their tenure, as well as the current Director General of the Ministry, Ms Marina Ioannou-Hasapi, who has now placed the project under her supervision.
Let me also thank the staff of the Cyprus Energy Office for their close cooperation with the Ministry, professionalism, supervision and monitoring of the projects. We aim to build on and continue our cooperation in order to further pursue funding solutions for both the technical assistance and the interventions made in the schools themselves, so that all 55 schools on the PEDIA project priority list are gradually upgraded.
Of course, I could not fail to thank in particular the Head and staff of the Environment and Sustainable Development Education Unit, who, together with the Cyprus Energy Office, designed the project, as well as the Technical Services of the Ministry that supported it. I would also like to express my sincere thanks to the Director of the Second Primary School of Idali, Mr. Christos Yasemi, as well as to the teaching staff and especially to the children of the school for their hospitality.
In conclusion, I would like to point out once again that we, as the competent Ministry, are showing in a practical way that change and the formation of a new generation of citizens can be achieved through investment in education.
In conclusion, I would like to point out once again that we, as the competent Ministry, are showing in a practical way that change and the formation of a new generation of citizens can be achieved through investment in education. Change comes through our children. The PEDIA project is proof of this. A project that deserves the respect and support of all of us. Today we are all here to share together the dream that is becoming reality.
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For the presentation of Mr. Savvas Vlachos click here, and for more information here.
(ΕΠ/GΣ)
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