PRIMARY SCHOOL OF AYIA MARINA, LEROS     THE SCHOOL’S HISTORY

  The Primary School of Ayia Marina, Leros, was created in 1970 through the integration of the two historical Schools of the island, the “Nikolaidion”  and the “Malachiion”. Thus, it is now housed in two  buildings.

It was founded in 1890, by Vassilios Nikolaidis, a great Lerian benefactor whose family had settled in Egypt. It was a girl’s school, with 6 classes, until 1937, when it was turned into an italian primary school by the Italian Occupation.

From 1943-1944, it was run by the “Lerian Board for Schools and Churches” as a mixed school.

After Leros - as part of the Dodecanese - was incorporated in Greece (1948), this became the 2^nd Primary School of Ayia Marina, Leros. Headmaster at the time was Georgios Flagos.

This wonderful neoclassical building attracts attention with its impressive architectural and decorative elements. In its front yard one can see the busts of the three great benefactors “of the Schools and of the Country”: Vassilios Nikolaides, Theologos Markopoulos, and Panayiotis Trakas.

In 1910-1912, Theodoros G. Malahias, another great Lerian benefactor who came from Egypt, funded the building of the most splendid Kindergarten in the Aegean. It had four classrooms and worked as a kindergarten only for a few years.

After the Incorporation of the Dodecanese in 1948, the Malahiion became the 1^st Primary School of Ayia Marina. Its Headmaster was rev. Tsagaris.

The Schools’ administration was entrusted to the School Board of Leros headed by the Metropolite.

In 1970, the two schools merged and became the “Primary School of Ayia Marina, Leros”. Headmaster at the time was Mr. Kostantinos Vratsalis.

Education on Leros owes a lot to its benefactors. Therefore, each year, on January 30^th (a day dedicated to Letters and Education), the local authorities, teachers and students of our island pay homage to those great men during a memorial service that takes place in the front yard of the Nikolaidion building.

Today, constant efforts are being made so that this great inheritance is preserved and developed to meet current needs to the benefit of our children.