With the construction of a new primary school, Sifnos can offer its pupils a state-of-the-art facility complete with modern classrooms, a fully equipped library, multi-purpose space, and workshops.
Greek island of Sifnos benefits from new, state-of-the-art primary school
- 18 September 2019
Our existing buildings simply could not handle the growing number of students, and our temporary solution of using three different buildings was less than ideal for the students’ safety and learning. But now, with the construction of the new all-day primary school, the children of Sifnos can get a quality education in a proper learning environment.
The island has a proud tradition of quality education and culture. However, upholding this tradition was becoming increasingly difficult due to the lack of an adequate primary school. To accommodate all the island’s children, pupils were spread across three different buildings in three different towns (Artemonas, Apollonia, and Dragatsis). When it was time to switch classes, instead of going to the classroom down the hall, students, teachers, and parents had to travel down the road. Artemonas and Apollonia are 1.6 km apart. Needless to say, this constant state of shuffle was not conducive to teaching and learning.
A modern learning environment
The new 2 370 m2, double-storey Primary School of Sifnos provides for the island’s primary education needs. With 12 classrooms, it accommodate up to 300 pupils. This is enough space to handle the island’s current needs, and it takes into account future growth too.
The multi-purpose room is used for a range of educational and cultural events. There are also all the necessary administrative and auxiliary spaces. The building complies with all modern teaching standards.
Built in two years
Building such a modern school was clearly a big undertaking – both physically and financially. Yet, despite the project’s size and complexity, it was completed in two years, in July 2016. The new school was inaugurated in October that year and welcomed its first class shortly thereafter.
Although initially included in the Operational Programme of Crete and Aegean Islands 2007 – 2013, with Egnatia Odos SA as the beneficiary, to ensure the project received the necessary financing, it was later transferred to the South Aegean Operational Programme 2014 – 2020 with a budget of EUR 2.4 million.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Primary school of Sifnos” is EUR 2 433 859, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 1 216 929 through the “South Aegean” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Jobs, Growth and Investment”.