It is indeed with great pleasure and great emotion that I am among you today, in one of the most historic and important educational institutions of our country.
The Pancyprian Gymnasium, which, since its foundation in 1812 by Archbishop Kyprianos, has been inextricably linked to our history and culture.
The school that emerged as a beacon of light, preserving our national identity at critical moments for our tested homeland and playing a decisive role for the national survival of Cypriot Hellenism.
The educational institution that was brightened by the ethos and values of great teachers and students, who excelled in all areas of life, in Politics, Science, Arts and Letters, as well as in Cyprus' struggle for freedom.
Recognizing the great value of the Pancyprian Gymnasium, in the context of our broader policy for Education, we set the goal to highlight its contribution to the Greek Letters and the intellectual life of our country in general, but also to preserve the continuation of its contribution as a school of Secondary Education for present and future generations.
With absolute respect to the historical character and identity of the School, priority was given to the full satisfaction of the educational needs through the reconstruction-restoration of its buildings.
The works, the total cost of which amounts to 7 million 804 thousand euros, began in June 2016 and were completed last September.
The first phase, inaugurated in January 2018, included the construction of a new wing, the repair of the listed buildings on Thiseos Street and the construction of part of the sports infrastructure.
Today, we are handing over to the educational and student community the upgraded historical building of the Severio Library and Theodotus Wing, as well as the main administration building and Hadjikostis Wing.
In addition, in order to further upgrade and modernize the operation of the Pancyprian Gymnasium, the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth has promoted and implements the following innovative actions:
- Operation of the Full Day Programme of the Interdisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Learning Cycle of the Gymnasium, with two directions: (a) the teaching of the STEAM methodology, using the Severio Library and the historical Museums of the School, and (b) the study of the Greek Language and Greek Culture. The Programme is open to students in the first and second grades of secondary school, regardless of their educational region.
- Transfer and operation of the Nicosia Music High School.
- Establishment and operation in the afternoon at the Severio Library of the Centre for Classical Studies and Greek Letters, for students from all the Gymnasiums and Lyceums of Nicosia.
- Operation of an Interactive Learning Centre.
- Digitization of the rich archive of manuscripts, maps, antiquities and heirlooms available at the School, in order to preserve them and make them accessible to the general public.
With what I have merely indicated, it is obvious that the Pancyprian Gymnasium, through its new form and its upgraded role, is once again becoming a model educational institution.
An educational institution which, responding to the vision of its founders, its benefactors and its great teachers, will feed our young people with knowledge and skills, values, ideals and ethos, making them capable of contributing to the progress and prosperity of our country and preserving our national identity, preserving the presence of the Greek element here.
What I want to underline is that, throughout our administration, we have shown the same concern for all the school facilities in our country.
Suffice it to say that over the last decade we have completed 27 school buildings worth more than 100 million euros, 285 extensions, seismic upgrades, general improvements and renovations, and more than 800 smaller-scale projects worth more than 120 million euros.
In addition, 13 new infrastructure projects are under implementation, with an estimated value of more than 110 million euros.
Most importantly, the future planning adopted in the National Plan "Cyprus__Tomorrow" for the pillar of Education, includes specific policy objectives and investment actions amounting to more than 100 million euros, which are expected to provide a substantial continuation of the plans and further upgrading of the work produced so far.
I would like to congratulate all those who have worked tirelessly to restore the prestige and contribution of the Pancyprian Gymnasium to the Greek Letters and Education.
I would also like to address the management, the staff, the School Ephorate and the students of the school: Your service and attendance at this historic school is an honour for you, for which you have the right to feel proud.
I wish all the best for the most historic educational institution, i.e. to continue the historic course charted by the founders and the great teachers who served it.
(PM/MB/EXP)
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