Filenews 13 March 2021 - by Dora Christodoulou
"War" of announcements broke out last weekend between the Ministry of Education and the Education Committee of DIKO, on the occasion of the school infrastructure of Paphos and the projects announced by the Ministry for the free Famagusta.
The chairman of the Education Committee of DIKO, Chrysanthos Savvides, issued the first announcement noting that the Ministry of Education has decided to build a new high school in Paralimni, at a time when the province of Paphos has been waiting for the construction of a new gymnasium in the city centre since 2005.
"It is clear, once again, that the Ministry designs and implements schools in all the provinces of Cyprus except Paphos," he said. "At the same time, our suspicion is confirmed that the meeting of the Education Committee of the House, which took place in Paphos, took place very simply for the eyes of the world.
Equality in education means that schools and education systems provide equal learning opportunities for all pupils. Unfortunately, the students of Paphos are treated unequally, since this province is not included in the respective designs".
The Ministry of Education issued a response statement, saying that the creation of three new school buildings and offices of the School Tax Office includes its planning for Paphos. Specifically, according to the announcement, the ministry has planned and implemented in Paphos the new 1st Kindergarten, the new Z' Primary School and the new Gymnasium in the centre of the city.
The announcement adds that in 2023, the construction of the New Gymnasium in the city centre will begin, as provided for by the agreement made with the local authorities.
In addition, following an agreement with the Municipality of Paphos and the School Tax Office, the Ministry of Education is proceeding with the creation of new offices of the School Tax Office and thus releasing rooms that will be used by the high school, in the area where the Ephorate is currently based, concludes the announcement.
The Chairman of the Education Committee of DIKO came back after the clarifications of the competent ministry, referring to the tactics of disinformation and communication tricks often applied by the EPAN.
"But the reality is different," according to Mr Savvides. "In Paphos there is no new school. They're just planning to move existing schools to other buildings. The 1st Paphos School will be transformed into a new space, taking advantage of a listed house with some additions. The relocation is then planned with some additions of the Z Municipal Paphos to the area that is today the 1st Paphos School. Subsequently, the relocation is planned with some additions of Nikolaidios Gymnasium in the area that is today the Z' Municipal Paphos.
All of the above, the Ministry describes as new schools".
Paphos immediately needs the construction of a new primary school and a new kindergarten in the Municipality of Paphos as well as a new primary school in the province, while it is necessary to build a new high school and technical school, since the existing one is full, it concludes.
