Kalymnos Merchant Marine Academy Engineering School Still Closed as Students Submit University Choices
The Engineering School of the Merchant Marine Academy (AEN) in Kalymnos will once again remain closed to new students this academic year, despite having been officially established and repeatedly presented as a key development project for the island.
As thousands of Greek high school graduates complete their university application forms, George Mavros, head of the municipal opposition group “Kalymnos allaZei”, has called on the government and the Municipality to provide clear answers regarding the project’s progress and the long-awaited opening of the school.
Mavros is seeking updates on the completion of the building that will house the Engineering School, as well as on the procurement tender for its technical and educational equipment. The tender process began in December 2025 and closed on March 10, 2026, yet no official information has been released regarding its outcome or possible delays.
He also asks whether the necessary teaching and administrative staff have been secured and calls for a clear and official timetable indicating when the Engineering School will finally begin operating and welcome its first students.
According to Mavros, Kalymnos no longer needs announcements or ceremonial events but rather transparency, accountability and concrete deadlines. He stresses that the operation of the Engineering School is not merely an educational issue but a strategic investment in the island’s maritime identity, economic development and the future opportunities available to its young people.
He further recalls that the establishment and operation of the school was a commitment made by the Prime Minister and argues that, as students are currently deciding their academic future, this is the appropriate time for the State and the Municipality to provide citizens with a responsible and transparent update on the status of a project repeatedly described as being of strategic importance for Kalymnos.
