The necessity for the immediate commencement of procedures for the construction of new school units in Paphos is back on the table with the start of the new school year.
Both AKEL and the Vice President of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Chrysanthos Savvides, have already taken action on the matter, emphasizing that the problem has become increasingly pressing and urgent.
AKEL, in a statement, points out that the construction of the new Nikolaides Gymnasium and the renovation of the Z’ Elementary School in the centre of Paphos have already been delayed for over a year from the initial schedules provided in 2019.
This proposal, which was supposed to be implemented, was a suggestion by the former Minister of Education, Costas Hambiaouris, with the unanimous consent of Paphos Mayor Phaidonas Phaidonos, and it was accepted by all relevant authorities, AKEL emphasizes.
Recently, the Mayor of Paphos changed his stance, raising obstacles that complicate the implementation of the plan and essentially lead to the closure of the Z’ Elementary School, AKEL stresses.
According to the statement, the Ministry of Education, instead of limiting itself to exchanging letters with the Ministry of Interior, the Administration of Turkish Cypriot Properties, and the Municipality of Paphos, should already be initiating the procedures for the implementation of the plan, while students and educators are suffocating in overcrowded schools.
AKEL also mentions complaints about the operation of mobile classrooms and the presence of temporary classrooms at the Nikolaides Gymnasium, the Gymnasium of Agios Theodoros, and the Gymnasium of Apostolos Pavlos.
The construction of a new primary and kindergarten school within the municipal boundaries of Paphos is also necessary, according to AKEL’s announcement, which emphasizes that all municipal schools and kindergartens in the Municipality of Paphos are overcrowded, and most laboratories that were used as classrooms have been abolished.
AKEL calls on the Minister of Interior, as the Guardian of Turkish Cypriot Properties, to immediately proceed with the allocation of the space resulting from the removal of the petrol station in the center of Paphos for the construction of the new Nikolaides Gymnasium.
The relevant work should commence as soon as possible to complete the relocation of the Nikolaides Gymnasium and the renovation of the Z’ Elementary School by 2024, it concludes.
On his part, the Member of Parliament for Paphos and Vice President of the relevant parliamentary committee, Chrysanthos Savvides, submitted questions to the House of Representatives regarding the establishment of new school units in the Paphos District.
Specifically, he emphasizes that he expects information from the responsible Minister about the status of the decision regarding the planning of new school units in the Paphos District and the related implementation timetables for these projects.
Mr. Savvides has repeatedly stressed that public schools in Paphos are facing the problem of overcrowding and that new school units must be created urgently.
