Cyprus educational reform to become reality

President of the Republic Demetris Christofias said on Wednesday that, despite any obstacles, educational reform will become a reality during his term in office.

The President was speaking at an event to award the Yiannos Kranidiotis Pioneering Creation Prize for 2008 to Nicos Themelis for his auctorial work, organised by the Organisation to Modernise Society (OPEK).

President Christofias said that ''for us, culture is not just another sector of responsibility for the state'' but it holds ''a special place in our priorities.''

He added that the government was proceeding with the implementation of large scale cultural infrastructure and was promoting the education of the younger generations through a courageous and decisive educational reform.

''Despite the obstacles, educational reform will take on form during our term,'' he said, adding that ''cultural development both of the Greek Cypriots and our Turkish Cypriot compatriots is of utmost importance in efforts underway to reach an agreed and viable solution of the Cyprus problem, which will lead to the peaceful cohabitation of the two communities.''

Concluding his remarks, President Christofias pointed out that ''the preservation of our cultural heritage, and at the same time the open horizons for a new contemporary cultural development, will always be the focus of our attention.''