The various foreign language centres scattered throughout the local townships are seen by many educators as a key element in providing Greek students with a complete, well-rounded education.

As a service to the readers of the Khronicles we surveyed the various language schools to get an insight as to just how valuable a role these centres play.  

Pepi Karantinou of Kokkini Hani’s Foreign Language Centre on the Anopoli Road, said: “The simple fact is, with the state of the Greek education system today, most students, in order to prepare for university exams, must take additional classes. Without them, Greek students just will not be properly prepared for a continued academic life."

Another Kokkini Hani educator, Nikos Koutalakis of the Euromathia Language School, said: “Every centre is responsible for its own programmes, leading to a "certificate of knowledge" in foreign languages by institutions recognized by ASEP, which monitors the time-table and the qualifications of the schools' instructors. And, with the mandatory on-going education of its professors, the schools continuously upgrade the quality of their provided services.”

Mrs. Eva Terzaki from the Carpe Diem School in Stalida reported that: “The children ought to go to these special tutoring centres to learn foreign languages, because our societies are now multicultural, therefore the knowledge of at least one foreign language is not only necessary, but mandatory.”

Along the same lines, Manolis Kalogerakis from the Μatheisis Centre in Hersonissos believes that the “children from a young age must deal with foreign languages as they broaden their horizons and develop their thinking process.”

Mrs. Valia Smyrnaki, a professor of English with her own school in Gournes, said: “The knowledge of foreign languages helps the children to read foreign works and come in contact with different cultures when they travel in other countries. She added: “Even using the internet requires the use of a foreign language. It is good that children begin at a young age the learning process of a foreign language because it is then that they can assimilate knowledge at a faster rate.”