Faneromeni school is one of the oldest and most historic schools of Cyprus. It is situated in the heart of the old city –centre of Nicosia.
It was founded in 1852 after many efforts from the Greek Orthodox Church and especially the Faneromeni church which is situated right in front of the school. Primarily it was used as “parthenagogeio” which means a Girls Only School (G.O.S.). The school had 115 students but only one teacher. The only way she could teach all these children was by using the help of older children as teachers-assistants for the younger ones.
As from 1903 Faneromeni School was also used for the training of the female teachers. The school took its΄ present form in 1924 with financial assistance from the Faneromeni Church. Nowadays the school is a public school for boys and girls. Within the same building there is a nursery school, a primary school and a high school.
Condition during the last decade new socioeconomic changes opened a new era for the community of the old town and the school. With the collapse of the Soviet Union a large number of Hellenes (Greek) of the Diaspora who had lived in the USSR for hundreds and, in some cases, thousands of years searched for a better economic environment. An estimated number of 30 000 arrived in the capital of Cyprus. The area of the old town, with low rent rates and a cheaper standard of living became for the majority of these people a new home. Along with them, and in the same area came the workers from India, Pakistan, Sri-Lanka, students from China, people from all over the world gathering within the Venetian walls of Nicosia.
Migrant workers (young, single and married males) brought their families after a period of searching for work and a home within the walls of the old city of divided Lefkosia. Soon (1990s onwards) the Primary School of Faneromeni provided education for children from Russian, Philippino and other Far East and eastern Europe origin children. The school became multicultural and changes had to be made in terms of curricula and school program. A rich repertoire of languages became a reality of school life. It was necessary to implement an intercultural educational policy.
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Groups were formed consisting of teachers, and Cypriot parents to deal with this need. The community was almost immediately involved trying to welcome parents and their children. Suggestions to the Ministry of Education were made. Soon things started changing. Extra time was given,for support work and extra teachers were appointed, so that the kids with no former knowledge of Greek could first learn the languagebefore proceeding with new subjects.Tests were conducted to put these children into different levels of language support work. Some of them had previously made a stop to Greece and had good knowledge of Greek; others had some knowledge of their Greek speaking grandparents etc.
In the meantime the community tried to get into touch with the parents of the children and create opportunities for them to get involved with the life of the school.Unfortu-nately little success was made since most of them are working until very late in the afternoon. Because of this the streets of the old town were soon filled with children playing all afternoon unattended by their parents.
The school tried to create the opportunities for these children to have some quality time within the school environment. There was an effort for the school to work until the afternoon something that is on the way of becoming a reality today.
In the absence of the all-day school the Organisation PAK, of Greek women of the old town filled gap creating ”Estia” a place for the kids to eat at noon and spend their time until 5 p.m.. The school and the “Estia” are currently working together to extend school hour till 4 p.m so that the “Estia” efforts will be woven within the school΄s program.
Source: Faneromeni School