European Initiative ''EU Back to School 2015-2016''

On the occasion of the European Initiative, Ms. Egly Pantelaki, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Culture, visited her old school on the 9th March 2016.

The Ministry of Education and Culture, in collaboration with the Representation of the European Commission in Cyprus and the Office of the European Parliament in Cyprus, participated in the initiative "EU Back to School», organised by the Directorate General of Communication of the European Commission.  
 
The Minister of Education and Culture, Mr Costas Kadis, the Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Cyprus, Mr. Georgios Markopouliotis, and the Head of the European Parliament Office in Cyprus, Mr Andreas Kettis, invited all current and former MEPs as well as the Ministries’ Permanent Secretaries to participate in the European Initiative "EU Back to School’’.
 
The "Back to School" initiative offers officials of the EU institutions, as well as political figures from the governments of the EU Member States, the possibility to revisit their old schools and talk with students about their career choices, their current job, as well as the challenges and opportunities they experienced after their school graduation. This initiative is also an excellent opportunity to develop a subject mutually agreed and share with them experiences related to European issues. 


On the 9th March 2016, we had the honour to welcome back to our school Ms. Egly Pantelakis, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Of Education. She was accompanied by Dr. Papadopoulou-Papa, Head of EU and International Affairs Office. The visit started with a welcome by our Orchestra playing the Chariots of Fire, followed by a warm welcome of our Year 4 students.  Ms Pantelaki addressed the assembly, her speech can be downloaded here. This was then followed by a small surprise organized by Ms. Magda Nicholson, Board Chair and ex-school mate of Ms. Pantelaki, whereby old school mates sang together.  Ms. Pantelaki then played a wonderful piece on the piano. After a short coffee break in the old residence of the headmasters, accompanied by live music by our senior orchestra, she admired the Photo Exhibition horning Cypriot woman writers, she engaged in a discussion with our Year 4 and 5 students on the theme “The Role of Education and Modern Societies”.  Her speech can be downloaded here.  The visit closed with a tour of the school grounds and classrooms.
 
We believe Ms. Pantelakis enjoyed the visit as much as our students.
 
The "Back to School" initiative was launched in 2007 by the Commission and the German Government as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and has since then continued by successive EU Council Presidencies. 
 
Click here to see an article published by the Ministry of Education regarding the visit. 
 
An article was written in Pedias News, a copy of which is attached with two photos or click on the link below. 
«EU Back to School 2015-2016»: Επίσκεψη Αίγλης Παντελάκη στην Αγγλική Σχολή
 

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