Gavdos primary school suspends operations due to lack of students

The primary school and kindergarten on the island of Gavdos will not open for the upcoming school year due to a total lack of students of preschool and primary school age. This marks the first time in several years that the educational facilities on the island have been suspended.

Mayor Lilian Stefanaki clarified that the suspension is not a permanent closure but a direct result of the absence of eligible children. While there are two permanent minors living on the island, they are currently too young to begin formal schooling. The mayor noted that if a family with school-aged children moves to Gavdos during the academic year, the necessary procedures will be taken to reopen the school immediately.

The teacher who served the island last year has already been reassigned to a school in mainland Crete. In an effort to maintain educational presence at the southernmost tip of Crete, the island previously operated a middle school classroom in 2024.