Armenian education in Cyprus

Small Armenian schools, some public and others private, used to operate also at the Magaravank (1897–1914), the Attalou settlement near Kharcha (1910–1922), Amiandos (1928–1939 & 1942–1948), Mavrovouni (1939-1942), Nicosia (1900-1905) and Larnaca 1896-1899, 1916-1918, 1921-1936, as well as in various villages during the World War II evacuation.

Of the private Armenian schools of the island, it is worth mentioning the short-lived but significant National Educational Orphanage (Ազգային Կրթարան-Որբանոց, 1897–1904), established in Nicosia by Vahan M. Kurkjian (Pagouran), and naturally the world-renowned Melkonian Educational Institute (Մելգոնեան Կրթական Հաստատութիւն, 1926–2005), established in Nicosia by brothers Krikor and Garabed Melkonian and administered by the Armenian General Benevolent Union.

In Nicosia, Nareg also operates as a Gymnasium (Junior High School), as of September 2005, due to the unfair closure of the Melkonian Educational Institute.

As of 1960, the annual budget of the schools is fully covered by the Ministry of Education and Culture and education is provided for free; previously, the budget was covered partly by the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus (mainly out of the exploitation of the Magaravank's carob and oil trees’ production) and partly by tuition fees.

In 1998 the government approved the pension scheme for the staff of Nareg Schools, with the same terms and conditions that their Greek-Cypriot colleagues benefit.

Other than Mr Tashdjian, currently the School Committee consists of the following members: Sebouh Tavitian, Masis der Parthogh, Avedis Chouldjian, Yeran Kouyoumdjian, Assadour Devledian, Raffi Mahdessian, Nayiri (der Arakelian) Merheje, Rita Kasparian, Dr. Missag Keshishian and Haroutiun Kassabian.

[2] Below is a list of the Headmasters for the National/Armenian Schools in Cyprus, from 1921 until today (there is no complete information before 1921): The renowned Melkonian Educational Institute (Մելգոնեան Կրթական Միութիւն) was built off Limassol Avenue in Aglandjia after the generous and benevolent donation of tobacco-trading brothers Krikor and Garabed Melkonian, who were not left apathetic by the horrific Armenian genocide.

To the left of the new boarding sections' entrance, there is a marble commemorative plaque in reading: Κατάθεση θεμέλιου λίθου 24 του Μάη 1987 Πρόεδρος της Κύπρου κ. Σπύρος Κυπριανού - Foundation stone 24th May 1987 The President of Cyprus Mr Spyros KyprianouThe school was administered by the New York-based AGBU, according to the contract signed by the benefactor Garabed Melkonian on 28 December 1925.

Although the litigation was won by AGBU's legal team, there is a permanent ministerial decree (02/03/2007) that characterises 60% of its total area as being of "special architectural, historical and social character and natural beauty".

On the buildings' sides facing the Benefactors' Mausoleum are the twin sandstone monuments for the Armenian Alphabet and Mother Armenia; they were unveiled by AGBU President Alec Manougian.

On top of the entrance of the Melikian National School there was the following marble commemorative inscription: Մելիքեան Վարժարան շինեալ արդեամբք ժառանգորդաց Արթին Պէյ Մելիքեանի 1921 (Melikian School built by commission of Artin Bey Melikian's heirs 1921)On top of the entrance of the Ouzounian National School there was the following marble commemorative inscription: Ուզունեան Վարժարան շինեալ արդեամբ Տիար Տիգրան Ուզունեանի ի յիշատակ իւր եւ իւր տիկնոջ Թ. Ուզունեանի 1938 (Ouzounian school built by commission of Mr Dickran Ouzounian in memory of him and his wife Touma Ouzounian 1938)As the entire Armenian quarter of Nicosia was taken over by Turkish Cypriots during the Cyprus crisis of 1963–64, the educational work suffered a temporary halt.

With the community feeling the need for a permanent school, government land was granted on 16 December 1966 in trust, thanks to appeals by Representative Berge Tilbian.

The purposely-built three-storey school building with its open amphitheatre was eventually erected between 1971–1972, thanks to the efforts of Representative Dr. Antranik L. Ashdjian, by the Technical Services of the Ministry of Education, with Pefkios Georghiades as its architect.

The school premises were inaugurated on 12 November 1972 by Archbishop Makarios III and Catholicos Khoren I, thus opening a bright new page in the educational and cultural life of the community.

Η ανέγερσις του σχολείου έγινε με την φροντίδα του Αντιπροσώπου της αρμενικής κοινότητος εις την Βουλήν Δρος Αντρανίκ Αστζιάν" (The Nareg Elementary School was built on ground donated by the government of Cyprus and was inaugurated by H. B. the President of the Republic of Cyprus Archbishop Makarios III on the 12th November 1972 in the presence of Catholicos Khoren I of Cilicia.

Also, thanks to the efforts of Representative Aram Kalaydjian, a freehold title deed on the land was given on 31 March 1983 in the name of the Virgin Mary church.

In front of the school's entrance is the sandstone statue of Saint Gregory of Nareg, the work of Armenian sculptor Levon Tokmadjian; it was unveiled by Representative Aram Kalaydjian on 24 March 1991.

On the side of the entrance, there is a marble commemorative plaque in Greek and Armenian reading: Η αίθουσα αυτή εγκαινιάσθηκε από τον έντιμο Υπουργό Παιδείας και Πολιτισμού Δρ.

Ανδρέα Δημητρίου την 17η Μαΐου 2011 επί θητείας του Εκπροσώπου της αρμενικής κοινότητας στη Βουλή των Αντιπροσώπων κ. Βαρτκές Μαχτεσιάν - Սրահի բացումը կատարուեցաւ ձեռամբ Կիպրոսի Կրթութեան եւ Մշակոյթի Նախարար Դոկտ.

Վարդգէս Մահտեսեանի պաշտօնավարութեան շրջանին (This hall was inaugurated by the honourable Minister of Education and Culture Dr. Andreas Demetriou on the 17th May 2011 during the term of the Representative of the Armenian community in the House of Representatives Mr Vartkes Mahdessian)Finally, in 2010 the school was completely renovated, thanks to the initiative of the current School Committee.

With the arrival of a number of Armenian refugees who escaped the Adana massacre (1909), the local parish council established a small school under Miss Rebecca Gomidassian.

Հանըմի Պ. Երամեան յ'ամի 1917 (This room was constructed from its foundations with expenses of Miss Hanemie B. Eramian in the year 1917)The school’s playground temporarily hosted many Lebanese-Armenian refugees during the Lebanese civil war (1975–1990).

On the left-hand side of the entrance door, there is a marble commemorative plaque in Greek reading: Το Αρμενικό Δημοτικό Σχολείο Ναρέκ κτίστηκε από την κυπριακή κυβέρνηση σε χώρο που δωρήθηκε από την Αρμενική Εκκλησία και εγκαινιάστηκε από την Αυτού Εξοχότητα τον Πρόεδρο της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας κ. Γλαύκο Κληρίδη στις 18 Μαΐου 1996 - Η ανέγερση του σχολείου έγινε με φροντίδα του Αντιπροσώπου της Αρμενικής Κοινότητας στη Βουλή κ. Αράμ Καλαϊτζιάν (The Nareg Armenian Elementary School was built by the government of Cyprus on a ground donated by the Armenian Church and was inaugurated by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr Glafcos Clerides on 18 May 1996 - The construction of the school was made with the care of the Representative of the Armenian Community in the House Mr Aram Kalaydjian)Finally, in 2012 the school was partially renovated, thanks to the initiative of the current School Committee.

[4] To the right hand side of the main entrance there is a marble commemorative plaque in Greek reading: Το Αρμενικό Δημοτικό Σχολείο Ναρέκ ανεγέρθη από την κυπριακή κυβέρνηση σε χώρο που εκχωρήθηκε από την Αρμενική Εκκλησία και εγκαινιάστηκε από την Αυτού Εξοχότητα τον Πρόεδρο της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας κ. Δημήτρη Χριστόφια την 5η Νοεμβρίου 2008 - Επί θητείας του Εκπροσώπου της Αρμενικής Κοινότητας στη Βουλή των Αντιπροσώπων κ. Βαρτκές Μαχτεσιάν (The Nareg Armenian Elementary School was constructed by the government of Cyprus on a ground ceded by the Armenian Church and was inaugurated by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr Demetris Christofias on the 5th of November 2008 - During the term of the Representative of the Armenian Community in the House of Representatives Mr Vartkes Mahdessian)To the side of the entrance, from the inside part of it, there is another marble commemorative plaque in Armenian reading: Սոյն յուշաքարը զետեղուեցաւ առ ի ճանաչում Պետական Ներկայացուցիչներ Պետրոս Գալյճեանի (sic) եւ Տոքթ Վահագն Ադամեանի նախաձեռնութեան եւ ջանքերուն, որոնց շնորհիւ իրականացաւ դպրոցաշէնքին կառուցումը (This commemorative plaque was placed in acknowledgement of the initiative and the efforts of the State Representatives Bedros Kalaydjian and Dr. Vahakn Atamyan, thanks to whom the construction of the school building was realised)The smallest member of Nareg Schools’ family, with no more than 15 students, it has been under Turkish occupation since August 1974.

It started operating in late 1927 under the name National Armenian School (Հայ Ազգային Վարժարան) with financial aid by the Reformed Presbyterian Mission at the house of Miss Hayarpi Der Kevorkian, opposite the Ayia Zoni church.

During the World War II evacuation (1941–1942), Armenian schools operated in the villages of Agros, Anaphotia, Pano Lefkara, Ormidhia, Pedhoulas, Pervolia, Prodhromos and Skouriotissa.