The new Technical School in Polemidia, which will replace the A’ Technical School of Limassol and will have almost double the capacity of the existing one (with the ability to accommodate 700 students), is expected to be completed around December of this year, the Director of Secondary Technical and Vocational Education, Dr. Elias Markatzis, told “Entrepreneurial Limassol”.
As he added, the Ministry of Education will evaluate the data and, if it is determined that the transfer can be carried out smoothly, it may take place during the 2026–2027 school year. “However, if it is found that problems may arise, since we do not want students to miss classes or face significant inconvenience, then the operation of the new school will definitely begin with the new school year, that is, in September 2027,” he added.
The total cost of constructing the new Technical School, as well as the branch of the Pedagogical Institute that will be housed at the same location, amounts to €27,715,000. The complex will be state-of-the-art and will include fully equipped laboratories for the fields of Mechanical Engineering, Services, Industrial Design, and Applied Arts.
At the same time, provision has been made for the development of new specialisations, such as Renewable Energy Sources, Digital Technology and Programming, Hospitality Management, Jewellery Design and Manufacturing, and Fashion Design and Garment Construction.
Upgraded Β’ Technical School in the city centre
Regarding the works at the Β’ Technical School of Limassol, which will remain the only technical school in the city centre, Dr. Markatzis stated that a small portion of the works remains and is expected to be completed soon.
“What matters to us is that the school has become unrecognisable. It has expanded significantly, has greatly increased its capabilities and, most importantly, now features state-of-the-art facilities. It is essentially a brand-new school in the centre of Limassol,” he stressed.
The total cost of the project amounts to €5.5 million. The new buildings include a lecture hall with a capacity of more than 200 people, new offices for the administration and staff, a Chemistry laboratory, a library, two classrooms, a cutting and sewing room with storage, two computer labs, and a basketball court.
Population shift and increased demand
Dr. Elias Markatzis pointed out that city centres in Cyprus are not what they used to be 30–40 years ago, as the population living in central areas has decreased and is moving towards the outskirts.
“The new Technical School being built in Polemidia, that is, in the outskirts, will serve many more students, as the population of the city is now moving outside the centre,” he said. At the same time, he underlined that three strong technical education units will operate in Limassol: the upgraded Β’ Technical School in the city centre, the C’ Technical School of Limassol, and the new school in Polemidia.
Regarding the C’ Technical and Vocational School of Education and Training of Limassol, located near the Polemidia Forest Park, he noted that it has been upgraded in recent years with the creation of new culinary and restaurant service laboratories, describing it as “a very nice school with excellent facilities”.
Prospect for another Technical School
The Director of Secondary Technical and Vocational Education expressed the belief that the number of students in technical education in Limassol will increase dramatically over the next three years. As he noted, the creation of another Technical School may be considered in five to six years, as demand is expected to increase “to an incredible degree”.
As he explained, technical education has been substantially strengthened in recent years, both in terms of study programmes and infrastructure and equipment. At the same time, social perceptions have changed significantly, with the mindset of undervaluing technical education that prevailed in the past now having been considerably reduced.
“We are in a situation where technical schools, which were empty 10–15 years ago, are now full and in some cases cannot accommodate all students,” he concluded.
Finally, he stressed that technical education in Cyprus has been substantially upgraded and is now comparable to high-quality systems in the European Union, something that is also reflected in the increased interest of parents, with around one quarter of students choosing it – a percentage that is expected to rise further.
