The largest organized program for the creation and upgrading of preschool education structures ever implemented in Attica is being put into effect, following the signing of the integration acts by the Regional Governor of Attica, Nikos Hardalias.
The program, with a total budget of €24 million, is part of the Regional Program «Attica 2021-2027» and concerns the construction, completion, reconstruction, and modernization of 12 nurseries and daycare centers in an equal number of municipalities in the Athens Basin. Upon completion of the projects, 821 new places will be created for infants, toddlers, and preschool children.
The program also includes Municipality of Kythira, which provides for the creation and modernization of daycare centers, with a budget of 400,000 euros, strengthening preschool care infrastructure in an island municipality that is geographically remote.
According to the Region of Attica, particular emphasis was placed on areas with increased social needs, as well as on island municipalities, as part of the strategy for balanced development and equal access for all families to modern and safe facilities.
In a statement, Attica Regional Governor Nikos Hardalias described the program as the largest organized preschool education initiative in Attica, emphasizing that the goal is to provide practical support to families and working parents. He also stressed that the timetables are binding, with tenders to be announced by May 15, while the goal is for the structures to be fully operational by 2028.
In addition to the Regional Governor, the contracts were signed by the mayors of the 12 municipalities participating in the program, including the Mayor of Kythira, Stratos Charhalakis, in the presence of officials from the Region and the Development Agency «New Metropolitan Attica S.A.».
Specifically, based on the ranking of the evaluated proposals, the construction, completion, or upgrading of nurseries and daycare centers will take place in the following municipalities:
Municipality of Troizinia – Methana:
Construction of a nursery school in Agios Georgios, Troizinia, with a budget of €630,000.
Municipality of Perama:
Completion of the Ano Perama nursery and kindergarten, with the beneficiary being the Regional Development Agency «New Metropolitan Attica S.A.» and a budget of €913,242.
Municipality of Korydallos:
Creation of a preschool education and care unit, with a budget of €3,100,000.
Municipality of Fyli:
Construction of a nursery school in the Municipal Unit of Ano Liossia, with a budget of €2,387,000.
Municipality of Galatsi:
Construction of a four-story nursery school, with a budget of €2,380,208.
Municipality of Peristeri:
Construction of a new nursery and infant care center, with a budget of €3,800,000.
Municipality of Kythira:
Creation and modernization of municipal daycare centers, with a budget of €400,000.
Municipality of Dafni – Ymittos:
Reconstruction of the Nursery (formerly PIKPA) in Dafni, with «Nea Mitropolitiki Attiki S.A.» as the beneficiary and a budget of €1,860,000.
Municipality of Agia Paraskevi:
Construction of a new two-story municipal nursery school, with a budget of €2,048,865.
Municipality of Mandra – Eidyllia:
Construction of a new nursery school, with a budget of €3,000,000.
Municipality of Vyronas:
Construction of a new nursery school, with a budget of €1,920,000.
Municipality of Oropos:
Construction of a comprehensive childcare center in Avlona, with a budget of €1,550,000.
As stated by the Regional Governor of Attica, Nikos Hardalias:
«For us in the Attica Region, supporting families and working parents is a daily responsibility.
With today's signing of the funding for 12 new nurseries and daycare centers, with a total budget of €24 million, through the Regional Program “Attica 2021-2027” – i.e. the European resources of our Region – we are creating 821 new places for infants, toddlers, and preschool children in neighborhoods that really need them.
Our new program is the largest organized intervention for the creation of daycare centers ever implemented in Attica to date and is based on a clear philosophy of cooperation: the Region and the 66 municipalities working together, with a common goal and measurable results for society. Because politics is ultimately judged by its work—and it is the work that remains with the citizens.
I know very well what it means for a parent to look for a place for their child and not find one. That is why we choose to invest in modern, safe facilities in every neighborhood of Attica—from the center of Athens to the islands and the most remote areas—making use of every available European resource. Without delays, without compromises, we want to be useful and provide solutions where society demands them.
He added:
«The evaluation of the proposals was carried out with complete transparency and institutional order, without interference, based on the work of the relevant evaluators. Today, we are moving from planning to implementation, and the municipalities are getting the green light to start the procedures immediately.
The timetables are clear and binding. By May 15, the tenders must have been announced. Where this does not happen, the funds will not remain committed but will be directed to projects that can actually go ahead.
Our goal is to have contractors in place by 2026 and for the daycare centers to be ready, fully operational, and equipped within 18 months. And in September 2028, we will all inaugurate them together and hand them over to the families of Attica.
It is a shared challenge and a common goal for the Region and the Municipalities – and we will achieve it through consistency, cooperation, and hard work.
Because social policy is not measured by words, but by substantive infrastructure for our children. And for our administration, it is actions that continue to count.
In addition to Attica Regional Governor Nikos Hardalias, the agreements were signed by the mayors of Troizinia-Methana, Tasos Mougios; Perama, Giannis Lagoudakos; Korydallos, Nikos Choursalas; Christos Pappous, Mayor of Fyli; Giorgos Markopoulos, Mayor of Galatsi; Andreas Pahatouridis, Mayor of Peristeri; Stratos Charhalakis, Mayor of Kythira; Daphne-Ymittos Nikos Tsilifis, Agia Paraskevi Giannis Mylonakis, Mandra-Eidyllia Armodios Drikos, Vyronas Alexis Sotiropoulos, and Oropos Giorgos Yassimakis.
Also present at the contract signing ceremony were Elena Rapti, Special Secretary of the Region of Attica, George Kormas, Managing Director of the Regional Development Agency «New Metropolitan Attica S.A.,» Giorgos Kormas, the General Director of the Organization, Efi Filiopoulou, the Head of the Special Management Service of the Regional Program «Attica» 2021–2027, Dimitris Drosos, and the Director of the Regional Governor's Office, Giorgos Chalkias.
