Greek Education Ministry approves limited renovation for Xanthi Minority High School
The Ministry of Education has announced a limited renovation and aesthetic improvement project for the Xanthi Minority Middle and High School. The decision was officially signed by Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki.
According to the ministry’s statement, the project is confined to resurfacing the wooden floors of the school’s two-story building using special materials. The €37,000 budget indicates that the renovation will be relatively small in scale.
The renovation will cover approximately 800 square meters of the school’s wooden floors. The intervention aims to prevent further deterioration, enhance the safety of students and staff, and improve the building’s aesthetics without compromising its architectural integrity.
This initiative is part of the “Development and Modernization of Educational Infrastructure” program, which focuses on supporting schools in sensitive and rural regions through small-scale investments. The work will be overseen and carried out by the Technical Services Department of the Ministry of Education.
Demand for New School Building Overlooked
Despite the announcement, the school’s Governing Committee and Parent-Teacher Association have reiterated their longstanding demand for a new, modern school building. They argue that the current structure is inadequate for the needs of over 500 students. Previous requests made to government authorities have remained unanswered.
In January, the Regional Directorate of Education for Eastern Macedonia and Thrace had signaled forthcoming aesthetic improvements at the school, which are now being implemented.
While community leaders view the current renovation project as a positive gesture, they continue to stress that their primary demand remains the construction of a new facility.
Unequal Funding Sparks Criticism
The limited scope and modest budget of the project have drawn criticism from within the minority community. Observers have noted the stark contrast in state funding, pointing out that €500,000 was allocated earlier this year for converting a commercial space near Xanthi’s Çınar Mosque into a school for approximately 60 students of the Xanthi Medrese.
In comparison, the much larger Xanthi Minority Middle and High School, serving around 500 students, is receiving only €37,000 for minor repairs. This discrepancy has fueled concerns about unequal treatment and underinvestment in minority education infrastructure.
