Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis visited the 17th public high school in Peristeri municipality on Friday morning, where he attended the traditional blessing marking the commencement of the new school year. Addressing the pupils, the prime minister stressed that today's youth are a generation familiar with computers, noting that "you are light years ahead of my generation", and referred to the government's new measure for the distribution of laptops to the first-year high school (7th grade) pupils introduced as of this academic year.
He noted that the 7th grade school books, those for the children who will be receiving coupons for the acquisition of their laptops, have already been uploaded on the internet, while 13,000 schools have already created digital communities.
Karamanlis added that all secondary schools have at least one information technology lab. The coupons will be distributed to the 7th grade pupils throughout the country beginning in the next few days, while the entire process is slated for completion by October 31.
The prime minister urged the pupils to make their best effort, adding that "you are rewarded with your effort".
"School is valuable for another reason as well: it is the staircase of social life. Make good use of it. You need to make good use of this time with dialogue and by speaking openly with your teachers," Karamanlis added.
The premier also told the pupils that the day was a special day for his own family, too, since his twins were going to first grade for the first time.
Regarding the new flu, he recommended adherence to the rules of hygiene.
Turning to the teachers, Karamanlis said that their work and contribution are recognised, adding that "we are fully aware of the difficulties you face in the performance of your duties".
The prime minister later visited the pupils in their separate classrooms.
Earlier, education minister Aris Spiliotopoulos said that the big hazard was not the new flu itself, but fear, panic and insecurity, warning that "all those who invest in those are mistaken".
12.09.2009
