Schoolchildren across Cyprus will receive essential fire safety lessons from retired firefighters during the upcoming academic year, as announced by Education Minister Athena Michaelidou. This initiative aims to enhance the safety of children and staff in schools, with a particular emphasis on fire safety.
During a recent meeting with fire brigade chief Nikos Longinos and other stakeholders, Michaelidou highlighted the ministry’s commitment to prioritising safety. She mentioned that these lessons had been planned well ahead of the tragic wildfire in Limassol last month, which resulted in the loss of two lives.
“Holding the meeting today confirms the importance of this type of cooperation,” she stated. The plan is to engage experts to visit schools and educate children of all ages, starting from preschool, as this is crucial for building essential life skills.
In her remarks, Michaelidou expressed a vision for the future: “We will see people going into schools to speak about these issues with children and school staff.” This proactive approach is part of a broader strategy to continuously monitor and upgrade the fire safety curriculum in response to the evolving climate crisis and the recurring incidents of wildfires.
Empowering Future Generations
Michaelidou underscored the importance of equipping children, who are the future citizens of Cyprus, with the knowledge and skills to respond appropriately to fire-related emergencies. She acknowledged the pressing nature of this issue, especially given the specific challenges posed by climate change and the increasing frequency of wildfires.
Longinos echoed this sentiment, emphasising the need to instil a culture of fire prevention and response among the younger generation. “We should start from the new generation, from the children, to create a new culture regarding the prevention of and response to any incidences of fire,” he stated.
Experienced Instructors for Effective Learning
The fire safety lessons will be delivered by retired firefighters, who bring decades of invaluable experience to the classroom. Longinos noted that these instructors, with 30 to 40 years of service, will be able to provide a vivid and engaging picture of fire safety to the children.
“The current events which are happening not only in Cyprus, but around the world, require us to go into the schools and be able to help the children in general,” he added. His gratitude was directed towards Michaelidou for facilitating this important educational initiative.
Community Support for Fire Safety Education
Panikos Tsouderos, chairman of the retired firefighters’ association, also spoke following the meeting. He expressed appreciation for the support from Michaelidou and Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis for the programme and the involvement of retired firefighters.
“We are happy, because although we are retired, we will be able to offer what we know,” Tsouderos said. He confirmed that there are volunteers available in all districts, ready to begin as soon as the programme is finalised.
