Warning bell for Greek schools in Istanbul

The caller schoolhouse year began with interest for the three remaining Greek schools successful Istanbul. At the Great School of the Nation and Patriarchal Academy of Constantinople, the oldest operating Greek school, nary caller students enrolled successful the archetypal people of precocious school. 

“We are starting with conscionable 30 children this year and without a single caller student,” said headmaster Dimitris Zotos, expressing his disappointment.

Across the different schools, 16 caller registrations were recorded: 7 astatine the Zografeion Lyceum, two successful higher grades there, and 7 astatine the Zappeion, the lone Greek schoolhouse offering each levels from kindergarten to precocious school. In total, 302 children present be Greek schools successful Turkey, including the land Imvros.

“This is the archetypal clip successful galore years that nary caller kid joined us,” Zotos noted, recalling that adjacent successful hard years 5 to ten students would enroll. Still, helium underlined the school’s strong record: “We person produced very bully students and support a precocious level of education.”

The teachers are mostly Constantinopolitans, joined successful caller years by educators from Greece. “We continue, and that is what matters,” Zotos added.

Zografeion’s main Giannis Dermitzakis pointed to a wider challenge: the declining size of the assemblage itself. “In Istanbul today we are lone 2,000 people. At 65, I americium still considered among the younger members.”

Greek Consul General successful Istanbul, Ambassador Konstantinos Koutras, urged optimism, noting the revival of schools successful Imvros. “Where erstwhile there was nothing, today there are 50 children crossed each levels. The important happening is not to beryllium discouraged. The candle remains lit, and we will each work for the occurrence to pain brighter.”