«First bell» for the new school year

The new school year started today with the traditional holy water blessing for the students of the Kindergarten, Primary School, Secondary School and High School.

From tomorrow, Tuesday, the timetable will start as normal.

This year, the use of protective masks will be optional for students, teachers and other staff, as well as for visitors to schools. Unvaccinated teachers, however, will still be required to display a negative diagnostic test. Tests must be administered once per school week, prior to Tuesday up to forty-eight hours prior to school attendance.

In Kindergartens and Primary Schools, the end of classes will be on 15 June 2023, in Secondary Schools on 30 May and the end of Secondary School exams on 15 June, while in High Schools classes will end on 19 May.

The third grade end-of-school examinations will be held from May 22 to 30 and the first and second grade examinations from May 22 to June 15.

«This school year starts full of optimism, with a creative spirit and with the aim of a qualitative, inclusive, modern, innovative school,» says the Minister of Education, Niki Kerameos, in a message to students and teachers. Among other things, she points out that this year the school «will have important innovations, all designed to ensure more and better resources for our children, a more stable working environment for our teachers and staff, a more stable and with potential for development, an upgraded education system for all.».

Addressing the students, she described that they will participate in programmes «such as the new all-day school, the educational groups with objects and activities of creative occupation and expression, as well as modern digital tools, such as interactive whiteboards and robotics kits, which will be gradually installed in schools throughout the country during the school year».

Kerameos also refers to «the Pedagogical Advisor-Mentor, who will support and encourage each new teacher, and the Inter-School Coordinator, who will coordinate the educational work of the school unit and assist the work of the headmaster, with the best possible staffing».

Further, he stresses that this year is organized earlier than ever before, «since the milestone dates, such as the end of the trimesters/quarter and the academic year and the schedule of the national examinations are already known, for better planning for everyone».