The Government will invest €1.5 million to upgrade the School for the Deaf, with renovation works expected to begin in January 2027.
President Nikos Christodoulides announced the plans during a visit to the School for the Deaf on Monday, accompanied by Education Minister Athena Michaelidou, as the new school year began.
Works to begin in January
Christodoulides said the former boarding school building is currently in a condition that is “not honourable for the state” and confirmed that renovation works will begin in January.
“I want to announce that in January 2027 we will begin the works, at a cost of €1.5 million. It is not a cost for the state, it is an investment,” he said.
The President added that visible changes should be evident by the time of his next visit to the school.
A further €10,000 will be provided by next week to cover urgent needs at the school at the start of the new academic year.
Special education reform
Christodoulides said the Government’s special education reform is expected to be presented to the Cabinet on 30 September.
The reform comes after around 30 years and will focus on personalised education and the individual needs of each student, he said.
The President also referred to the reform of the benefits system, describing it as an important change that had been advanced after several years.
He also praised the experience and work of Marilena Evangelou, who has taken over as chair of the Board of the School for the Deaf.
‘Equal opportunities for all children’
During his address to students and teachers, Christodoulides said the School for the Deaf was one of three educational institutions he chose to visit at the start of the school year.
“A state is judged by whether it provides the same opportunities to its citizens and its children,” he said, regardless of their individual circumstances.
Following his address, the President toured the school facilities and planted a tree in the courtyard to mark his visit.
Also read: Christodoulides vows to install air conditioning in all schools by 2028
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