Filenews 20 February 2026 - by Natasa Christoforou
Athienou is very pleased with the decision of the Council of Ministers to lease the historic Primary School to the University of Thessaly, to function as the administration of the University branch and to be the initial facility of the Veterinary School of the academic institution in Cyprus. The university's plans, as the mayor, Kyriakos Kareklas, told filenews, are to operate the Veterinary School in the academic period 2026-2027. The university, as he said, is, in fact, in contacts with OKYPY, for the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation so that the Athienou Health Center can be used for university purposes as well.
Mr. Kareklas expressed warm thanks to the Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Athena Michailidou, with whose recommendation the relevant decision was taken by the Council of Ministers. "The Minister, who constantly stands by the border areas and supports their just demands, from the first moment recognized the advantages of the operation of a Veterinary School in the border area of Athienou and gave instructions to promote the request of the School Board of Athienou for the lease of the school to the University of Thessaly, while with her personal actions we reached the presentation of the issue at the meeting of the Council of Ministers and the final approval of the request", noted Mr. Kareklas.
He also added that the operation of the administration of the University Branch and the initial establishment of the Veterinary School in Athienou "will help in the development of a long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation, which will strengthen the prestige and presence of the University of Thessaly in the wider region, while at the same time it will be a lever of development for the area of Athienou".
It is noted that the building in which the Veterinary School of the University of Thessaly will be housed is from 1925 and is a donation of the late Michael Georgiou.
