Abandoned school to be demolished ‘in coming days’

Authorities are expected to demolish Dianelleios technical school entrance hall building in the coming days, Petros Chrysostomou, chairman of the Larnaca school board told the Cyprus News Agency on Wednesday.

He said that demolition would go ahead to prevent the use of the building by homeless people and the increase of rodents.

Dianelleios technical school became state property after an exchange between the ministry of education and the church and specifically Kitium bishopric, with the aim of building a new school to solve the problem of pupils overcrowding in Larnaca schools.

Chrysostomou said that the new building was imperative to address the problem and stressed the need for cooperation between involved parties.

“The building was demolished in April 2015 following cabinet’s decision, and only the entrance hall and Dimitris Dianellos bust remain. The plan is for the bust to be incorporated in the new School that will be built,” he added.

Kitium bishopric gave Larnaca’s school board €40,000 so that the demolition can proceed.

He noted that the construction of the new school will require the ministry to include the project in the state budget and said that the demolition will solve the problem of rodents and the use of school facilities by the homeless.

Chrysostomou said the problem had been reported to the minister in a letter sent by Larnaca Mayor Andreas Vyras citing many complaints from residents about conditions.

“The building has been abandoned and is being used by homeless people and drug addicts. For the last six years”, the letter states, which also requests information on the time schedule that the ministry will follow for the construction of the school.