By Romfea.news
The Archdiocese of Cyprus set up an agreement with the Ministry of Education for the construction of students residences.
As the Archbishop of Cyprus stressed at a press conference jointly with Education Minister Kostas Chambiaouris, it was decided to start building students residence for poor students.
“The Minister called on us and we responded immediately. The first students residence will be constructed in Limassol. Fortunately, the Church has land near the University, where 200 residences can be built.”
In addition, the Archbishop said to the Minister of Education of Cyprus that besides Limassol, where there are plots owned by parishes or metropolises, students residences must be built especially in Nicosia, “so as to serve the poor students, who cannot afford, under no circumstances, to pay rents as they are today, that is 600 and 700 euros per month. This situation is unacceptable.”
He added that the cooperation with the ministry will be extended. The Church will be there and will do the best possible, because the Church considers that it has an obligation.
He noted that the students residences would be built on ecclesiastical property and there would be similar common services for all. He affirmed that the rent would not exceed 200 euros per month.
“Wherever the Church has land, new students residences will be built in order to serve the poor students who can not pay current rents,” he said.
On his part, the Minister of Education stressed that a month ago he met the students who raised the issue of students’ accommodation, especially in Limassol, as the rents are very high.
“In a recent meeting with Archbishop Chrysostomos, among other things, I mentioned that specific request of the students. The Archbishop, without a second thought, responded to the request. He called me the following day and said that he would get my request off the ground. The Archbishop added that the Church would immediately start building residences for the poor students in Limassol, since the Church has the land and can afford to do so.”
Archbishop Chrysostomos also stressed that the residences were expected to be delivered to the students by 2020. “Afterwards, we will build residences in Nicosia and wherever necessary, we will be happy to do so.”
