THE
ARMENIANS
OF CYPRUS
22
Armenians have always placed particular emphasis on
education, which - in conjunction with the Church - is
the foundation of their national and cultural heritage.
As of 1972, Armenian Elementary Schools in Cyprus are
called “Nareg”, in memory of the monk, theologian and
philosopher Krikor Naregatsi. They have a single
Headmistress and are supervised by an autonomous
11-member School Committee.
The Nicosia school is located on land granted by the
government of the Republic of Cyprus. All three schools
are adjacent to the local churches and have over 200
students in total; as of 2005, there is also the Nareg
Gymnasium, which operates in Nicosia with about 15
students. The education they provide is tri-lingual
Educational Institutions
(Armenian, Greek, English) and their curriculum is
equivalent to the public schools’ curriculum of the
Greek-Cypriot community, with additional lessons in the
Armenian language, history and religion, as well as
activities that cultivate and promote Armenology. Their
budget is covered entirely by the Ministry of Education
and Culture.
By initiative of the Armenian Representative, Vartkes
Mahdessian, the “Nanor” Armenian Childcare Centre
has been operating as of 2013 next to the Nicosia Nareg
School; currently it caters for about 18 infants/children
aged between 4 months and 3 years old.
Armenian schools have been operating in Nicosia since
1870, in Larnaka since 1909, while in Limassol since
l
Larnaka’s Nareg Armenian School. It shares its yard
with the adjoining church of Saint Stephen (2013).
l
Limassol’s Nareg Armenian School. It shares its yard
with the adjoining church of Saint George (2016).
l
Nicosia’s Nareg Armenian School. It shares its yard
with the adjoining cathedral of the Virgin Mary (2016).
