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Education in the Rhythms of
Kallikratis: An interview with Mr. Antonis Perisynakis, Vice-mayor of
Technical Services, European Cultural Programs, Nea Alikarnassos
What is the condition of the
existing infrastructures in the field of education in the present Municipality of Nea
Alikarnassos and how do you evaluate it?
What is important is that the last eight years the
municipality has made tremendous efforts, not only to maintain, but also to
erect school buildings. It is also very important that the Municipality is
the best of all municipalities in the prefecture with regard to operation as
well. In total, it has nine school committees that oversee nine
kindergartens, six primary schools, one junior high school, one high school
and the first technical high school, which belongs to
Iraklion. It is housed in a rented facility, but our
municipality pays its operational expenses.
The buildings housing primary and secondary schools are
in top condition. Some are impressively refurbished and, shortly, a plot
will be purchased in a central point of the municipality, and a new building
will be constructed to house the 5th primary school and junior
high school. At the same time, the Municipality has given to the Prefecture
15 stremmata for further infrastructures regarding the construction of
educational institutions. A proposal was also filed with the defense
ministry requesting that space be allocated at the former Betinaki camp to
house the needs of the Iraklion School of Arts and the European school, and
to house any further student needs for Alikarnassos and Karteros. The same
correct management of land and funds will continue in the Kallikratis
framework, bearing in mind that the municipality maintains the schools with
its own financing and that we have accomplished economic viability without
borrowing.
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If, in fact, the Kallikratis plan
goes into effect, and Nea Alikarnassos, Gouves and Episkopi are joined, how
can we expect the chronically ailing school housing situation to be put to
rights regarding the schools in Kokkini and the former American base?
Because the Alikarnassos demos does not have the problems
that Gouves face, we will give priority to school housing in Gouves, given
that: a) our municipal council is composed mainly by teachers (I'm one
myself) and we are particularly sensitive to the problem, and b) with the
implementation of Kallikratis certain powers will be taken away from the
prefecture and given to the municipalities like renting spaces, purchasing
lots, constructing buildings. Consequently, management will be more direct
and this is an advantage that we will develop, to the full extent of our
capabilities.
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