Newsroom / CNA
Nestled in the remote mountain village of Kambos, the smallest school in Cyprus is proving that size doesn’t limit ambition. With just two students, Kambos Primary School has become a model of innovation and outreach, earning national recognition in fields as diverse as robotics and traditional herbal science.
Teacher and principal Christiana Christoforou has been the driving force behind the school’s transformation over the past seven years. She spoke to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) about her mission to overcome isolation by opening the school to the wider world. Through partnerships with other institutions and experts, the school promotes authentic, hands-on learning despite its modest size.
Backed by the Ministry of Education and supported by the Pedagogical Institute, Kambos Primary has embraced technology and interdisciplinary projects. The school recently won first prize in the Youth Tech Festival with a Mars-themed robotics project, earning them a spot to represent Cyprus in an international competition in Greece. Their robotic creation, W.I.S.E. Roby, was designed to detect and collect water on the Red Planet, and was accompanied by student-built solar and wind energy systems.
The school's success doesn't stop there. Kambos also placed third among 62 schools at the 2024 sCyence Fair for a project that combined local tradition with science, producing soaps and herbal products based on interviews with village elders.
Their growing reputation even attracted Austrian analog astronaut Dr. Gernot Grömer, who visited the school to speak with the students about space exploration and the life cycle of stars.
Despite its geographic isolation, Kambos Primary is thriving—thanks to its innovative spirit, strong support, and the enthusiasm of its two students, Panayiotis Photiou and Dimitra Panayiotou. Both expressed a love for their school’s creative lessons and visiting guests, though they admitted they wouldn’t mind having a few more classmates to play and learn with.
