A Academics in the MR

• Among the refugees in Aktí from Lebanon in 1885 were four religious sisters of the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family who began the task of teaching the children. "School" was held in the ruins where the refugees lived. As soon as homes for the refugees were built, a school was built which was named Holy Angels (Αγι’ Άγγελι). Blue and white were chosen by the students as the school colors. Similar scenarios took place later in Prosforion and then in Amoulián, although in these two cases there were no religious sisters and the role of teacher was assumed by lay people. The school in Prosforion was named St. Basil (Άγιο Βαςίλ), with blue and yellow as the school colors, and the school in Amoulián, St. Irene (Αγι’ Ιρίν), with green and white as the school colors. Eventually the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family agreed to staff these schools (with some lay teachers as well) and a convent was built near each of the schools.

• In Prosforion a central secondary school (γυμνάςι) was built in 1961 and put under the patronage of St. Michael the Archangel. Students are transported from Aktí and Amoulián. Once the electric bus system was operating, a special bus brought the students to the secondary school from Aktí at no charge. They return home using the regularly scheduled buses. Students from Amoulián are brought over each morning by boat and returned to the island in the evening, again at no charge.

• Primary school (διμοτίκ ςχολί) is compulsory. It begins the September after the child's sixth birthday. It consists of six grades. Immediately upon entry into the ςχολί, the child beings to study Modern Greek.

• Secondary school (γυμνάςι) is also mandatory. It consists of three grades.

• Although further education is not mandatory, virtually all students go on to the third level. For those preparing for further academic studies, there is the lyceum (λυςέ) of three years. Or the student can choose vocational training, also for three years.

• The only intramural sport is soccer, and there are three boys' teams and three girls' teams, each one composed of students from each town. During the school year soccer tournaments are held with trophies awarded to the winning teams. These trophies are on display in the Government House of each deme.

• The students in the lyceum are also trained as gymnasts and in fencing, archery, swimming and diving in the hopes of competing in international games.

• After this educaton, the student is obligated to put in his two years in the gendarmery, if he is needed.

• After serving his time in the gendarmery, the student may then find a job in the private sector or pursue higher studies at a university.

• For higher education, students must attend colleges and universities outside the Monastic Republic. After passing the entrance examination, the majority of the students choose to attend the University of Thessaloniki. Scholarships and loans are available. The Aoun Brewery grants a full tuition scholarship to the graduating senior with the highest GPA in the sciences. Each of the monasteries grants a partial tuition scholarship to the twenty graduating seniors with the highest GPAs.