OLYMPION's George Kritikos: Joining Globeducate will bring about multiple benefits to our school, our students and our staff

The Co-Director of School Group OLYMPION and President of the Association of Private Schools, Giorgos Kritikos, has talked about the multiple benefits that will arise from the collaboration it recently entered into with the international educational organisation Globeducate.

In an interview with InBusinessNews, Kritikos talks about this being a particularly positive development for the school, with multiple benefits, both for the students and for its staff, while also outlining OLYMPION’s future plans for OLYMPION including whether or not it is considering expansion to other districts.

At the same time, George Kritikos outlines the reasons why, in his opinion, OLYMPION stands out and is an ideal choice for Secondary Education, also sharing some of the school’s milestone successes in its 20-year journey to date.

In addition, he submits his view of private education in Cyprus, with prospects, as he estimates, being positive, even though there are also great challenges for the sector.

Your collaboration with the international educational organisation Globeducate was recently announced. What are the benefits for OLYMPION that will arise through this collaboration?

We firmly believe that this is a particularly positive event for our school, which will contribute to its development, the modernisation of structures and practices, the acquisition of new technology and expertise, as well as the upgrading of the services provided.

The prospects that have opened up

What prospects in particular do you see opening up through this collaboration for the school, the students, and also the staff?

Joining Globeducate will bring about multiple benefits to our school, our students and our staff. The group's mission is to prepare its students to become global citizens who can shape the world.

It is an official partner of WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and also collaborates with the international Ecological Schools programme. STEAM education is a top priority, the group works with LEGO Education and has developed a sufficient number of Space Centers and Innovation Centers in its schools across Europe.

In September 2023 Globeducate added a Head of Artificial Intelligence to its staff, who leads - among other things - staff training, artificial intelligence student councils and curriculum development.

The students of the School Group OLYMPION will have the opportunity, like the rest of the students of Globeducate bilingual, national and multinational schools, to participate in a wide range of global activities - online and live - such as Visual Arts Competitions, the Olympic Games, Globeducate Model United Nations, Academic Olympiads, International Music Festivals and Student Leadership Conferences.

At the same time, teachers will benefit from the possibility of joining international learning communities, focusing on modern forms of learning, such as: ‘Outdoor Learning,’ ‘Reading and STEAM education,’ ‘Sustainability,’ where they can share and learn the best practices among community members.

It is noted that both the management and administration of the schools remain as they are. You are assured that this development does not entail any changes in the working environment or in the context of our cooperation, which continues on the basis of the agreed terms and conditions.

The change after joining Globeducate's international educational network lies in broadening prospects and the horizon of continuous development.

A 20-year journey full of successes

What do you believe makes your school stand out and make it an ideal choice for Secondary Education?

What I believe makes us stand out and be an ideal choice in Secondary Education is our people-centred approach and culture, as well as our friendly and highly qualified staff.

Also, the small number of students in each class (average 15 students) are characteristics that make us stand out.

In your 20-year career, you have managed to record many great successes. Which were/are most important to your school?

The successes we managed to record in our 20-year course are many.

In my opinion, the most important for our organisation are the many pan-Cypriot, pan-European and national awards in competitions in mathematics, science, languages, Greek, art and sports, as well as the first prizes in the Education Leaders Awards for our facilities, the bond with society and online education.

Additionally, the successes of our graduates over time in very competitive fields of study and universities in Cyprus, Greece, the UK, Europe and the USA make us stand out.

Future plans

What can you share with us about your future plans? Are you thinking of expanding to other districts?

We are not thinking about expanding to other districts. In our medium-term future plans is our establishment in primary and pre-primary education as a modern, human-centered Greek-speaking school, which meets the high demands of parents, both in terms of logistical infrastructure and building facilities as well as in modern student-centered learning practices.

The challenges of private education

Speaking more generally, what is your view of the prospects for private education in Cyprus?

I believe that the prospects for private education in Cyprus are positive, with the growing demand for international study programmes and alternative forms of education.

Collaborations with international educational institutions contribute to the quality of private education.

However, challenges such as the financial situation of families, as well as competition with public schools, where everything is free and often inequalities against private education students remain.

(Source: InBusinessNews)