For the first time in 26 years, graduation ceremonies were held on Wednesday for children in the nursery and primary schools of Kormakitis in the north, which had been closed for decades.

Head of humanitarian affairs for the missing and enclaved Anna Aristotelous described the occasion as a “historic event”.

Two children graduated on Wednesday, one from the largely Maronite village’s nursery school and one from the primary school, which reopened in July 2023.

“Today we are witnessing a historic event, a deeply emotional moment and one of great symbolism,” Aristotelous said.

She added that the reopening of the nursery and primary schools was “the result of many efforts and coordinated actions by the government, the community, and those who believed that Kormakitis should not be left behind”.

“Two children gave light and life again to an entire school […] this is a milestone for the community. It demonstrates that a school is not just a building, it is memory, identity, roots and hope,” Aristotelous said.

“The government’s support for the Maronite community is multidimensional and is already being implemented with measurable results.”