[PIO] Address by the Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Dr Athina Michailidou at the press conference on the occasion of the completion of the

It is with great pleasure and satisfaction that I address today's press conference, held on the occasion of the completion of the installation of Photovoltaic Systems in Public Schools. It is no coincidence that this event is taking place here, at the Pancyprian Gymnasium in Nicosia, in one of the most emblematic and historic schools of Cyprus, with a tradition of more than two centuries and with an invaluable and leading contribution to the educational, social and national events of our island. A school which the State is constantly strengthening and upgrading, like the rest of our educational institutions, in order to further improve teaching and learning conditions.

In the context of the holistic upgrading of public schools and the intended restructuring of our educational system, the project of installing Photovoltaic Systems, which is part of the National Strategic Plan for Education and Sustainable Development 2030 and which is expected to contribute significantly to strengthening the building and environmental upgrading of our schools, as recorded in the Governance Programme. Our goal is to improve the energy efficiency of schools and transform them into learning communities for sustainability and green transition. Culture change requires climate-resilient school environments, capable of providing experiential learning opportunities for the entire educational community, with a focus on children. In this direction, alongside the installation of photovoltaic systems, we are promoting other important actions, on which we will provide detailed information very soon.

The project of installing photovoltaic systems, which we present here today, was implemented following an agreement signed in November 2019 between the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth and the Cyprus Electricity Authority. The relevant tender, announced by the Electricity Authority in August 2020, concerned the installation of Photovoltaic Systems in 405 Public Schools, as well as the necessary thermal insulation and damp proofing of the installation surfaces. The total cost of the project, which was completed in August 2023, exceeded six and a half million euros, an amount drawn entirely from the Recovery and Resilience Plan fund under the green transition axis. The completion of the project raises the number of schools in which Photovoltaic Systems have been installed and whose building facilities met the technical characteristics required for this purpose to 550.

According to a study carried out, the completion of the project in question contributes to primary energy savings of 35% and helps to achieve the European targets for reducing energy consumption and producing energy from renewable sources by 2030. In addition, the project contributes to environmental protection by reducing emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases, to rational consumption of electricity, to saving state resources, to highlighting the role that public buildings should play in the field of energy saving, to fostering energy and environmental awareness among pupils and to familiarising them with renewable energy technologies. I particularly thank and congratulate the outgoing President, the members of the Board of Directors and staff of the Cyprus Electricity Authority as well as the Director and staff of the Technical Services of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth for their decisive contribution to the planning and implementation of the important project we are presenting today.

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