By Andria Kades
CONSTRUCTION work at some 50 schools should be finished at the start of the new school year next week, while some work may have to continue into the semester, a confident Education minister Costas Kadis said on Thursday.
He also said that this could be “one of the best academic years” as most of the appointments and reassignment of teachers has been completed in time, while the majority of text books have been delivered to schools with just those of a few subjects to arrive in class the following week.
“This year may be the best (academic year) compared to the past few years. Following the unfreezing of head teacher and assistant positions by the cabinet, we do not expect any staffing problems in the schools’ management or for teachers.
“We expect a good school year.”
Regarding the ongoing construction work, Kadis said these could not take place only during the summer break but needed to continue all year round without disrupting the lessons.
After reviewing some developments at the Pallouriotissa lyceum and gymnasium in Nicosia, he said “we saw with great satisfaction that the works are progressing smoothly.”
He also raised the matter of school uniforms he had recently discussed with parents where students are often seen wearing widely different attire.
Although not a priority, Kadis said a recent proposal he suggested was to allow students to design their own uniform and allow them to vote for the most popular ones.
This was met with positive reaction from parents and should there be a consensus he said he would be willing to implement this plan.
Kadis also visited the Aglantzia kindergarten and the Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios primary school.
Schools are set to open next week with a few changes in their schedules. Primary schools will have more teaching time in Greek, English, maths and physical education. An extra period will be added to help children with learning disabilities.
Gymnasiums will have two less teaching hours and afternoon foreign language classes.
In lyceums, six programmes of studies will be introduced, for students to follow according to their future career paths. They are humanities, foreign languages and European studies, applied sciences that include technology and computer science, economics, services and fine arts.
Music and sports lyceums have also been established in every town.
All-day primary schools are set to start on September 14, with 14 participating schools. They will run from 7.45am to either 3.15pm or 4pm depending on demand every day, except Wednesdays when they will close at 1.05pm.
