A group of G C School of Careers students had the wonderful opportunity to discover the value of research and its great contribution to many and diverse fields of life through their participation in a competition organised by the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute, the University of Cyprus and the Research Promotion Foundation.
The aim of the Competition - Students In Research and Action (ΜΕΡΑ) - is to help students acquire advanced research skills, appreciate the value of research and its role in the development of technology, economy, society, the environment and the improvement in quality of life in general. Eleven Fourth Formers under the guidance of Mrs Christina Papasolomontos, researcher from the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute, and their teacher Mrs Yiota Yerontidou, have started investigating issues concerning Violence at School, Football Hooliganism and Drug Addiction since last December. The programme was completed in May.
In December, during the first meeting of the team with Mrs Papasolomontos, the research targets and requirements were outlined and relevant literature was supplied.
On 12th January the student team interviewed Police Special Forces Officers headed by Lieutenant Stavros Stavrou, who is the officer in charge of the Police Department collecting information on hooliganism. Mr Stavrou briefly outlined the history of hooliganism abroad and in Cyprus, and showed a film about clashes in Italy in 1985 between Liverpool and Juventus supporters, as well as a film on the acts of violence which took place during the recent AEL – APOEL match. The meeting closed with a constructive discussion on the topic.
This interview was followed by interviews with three male teachers and four students who had attended the APOEL – AEL match.
On 25th January the Bishop of Limassol, Athanasios, visited our School and talked to the MEPA team as well as students of 3 Orange about Drug Abuse.
On the 3rd of February the Head of the National Centre of Documentation & Information on Drugs, Mr Neoklis Georgiades, visited our school and talked about the drugs´ problem in Cyprus. A discussion followed with the students who attended the presentation
On 8th February Mr Nicos Tornaritis, President of the Education Committee of the House of Representatives, delivered a lecture on Child Delinquency in Cyprus in the Stelios Hadjipetris Auditorium. He addressed the students involved in the MEPA programme, teachers, parents and a number of prominent personalities who are actively involved in the field of child welfare, such as, Mr Takis Clerides, Dr Stella Kyriakides and Andreas Hadjikyriacos.
On 13th February the Bishop of Kition, Chrysostomos, and Mr Antonis Farmakas from KENTHEA discussed with the students of the MEPA team and 3 Green students the problem of Drug Abuse within our society.
On 16th February high-ranking Police Officers visited our school and talked to students of the MEPA programme about drugs.
On 1st March the Director of the Educational Psychology Department of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Mr Michalis Ioannou accompanied by the psychologist Mrs Andri Theocli, talked to the students on the topic of Juvenile Delinquency with special emphasis on substance abuse.
On 2nd March the research team accompanied by Mrs Yerontidou and Mrs Papasolomontos visited Ayia Skepi. The team were shown round the premises and they interviewed inmates.
On 13th March, the Minister of Justice and Public Order, Mr Doros Theodorou, talked to students, parents and staff on the problem of substance abuse.
On 15th March, the Bishop of Kykkos, Nikiforos visited the School and talked on Juvenile Delinquency and the church in the 21st Century.
On 24th March, the research team interviewed Mr Costas Malekos, the President of the Football Association on the problem of football violence.
On 11th May, The MEPA programme was rounded off at the Hilton Park Hotel with lectures on the theme of Juvenile Delinquency And How To Deal With It. Guest speakers were: Bishops of Kition Chrysostomos, and Limassol, Athanasios, Lieutenant Stavros Stavrou, Director of the national Office against Hooliganism, Mr Georgios Kokkinos from the Drug Abuse Prevention Department, Mrs Olymbia Stylianou, Director General of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Mr Michalis Ioannou, Director of the Educational Psychology Department of the Ministry of Education and Culture and Mr Emilios Solomou, President of the Stelios Hadjipetris Foundation. Mrs Yiota Yerontidou and Mrs Christina Papasolomontos presented the research findings to the public.
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