A significant educational initiative is taking shape in the Municipality of Sfakia, as an off-site department of the School of Higher Vocational Training (S.A.E.K.) of Chania is being established and put into operation, specializing in the specialty “Mountain Guide”.
The decision was signed by the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports (No. Prot. K5/76631/25-06-2025, ADA: 9ΒΘΘ46ΝΚΠΟ-1Ι0) and is the result of the documented request of the Municipality of Sfakia, with protocol number 1391/02-05-2025.
The new department, which will begin operating on September 1, 2025, comes to respond to the educational and professional needs of the wider region, connecting theoretical training with the special geomorphological and tourist characteristics of Sfakia.
The specialty of “Mountain Guide” acquires special importance for a place with rich natural landscapes, gorges, mountain trails, and intense development in alternative and hiking tourism. The operation of the department aims to strengthen local employment, sustainable tourism development, and the provision of equal educational opportunities in remote areas.
The Mayor of Sfakia, Ioannis Zervos, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the efforts, warmly thanking the Ministry for accepting the request. At the same time, he thanked those who supported the project, and specifically the Deputy Minister of Immigration and Asylum Sevi Voloudaki, as well as the Member of Parliament for Chania Alexandros Markogiannakis, for their continuous support and decisive intervention.
“Today’s decision is not just an institutional development, but the beginning of a new educational reality for Sfakia, which will give opportunities to our young people to stay, study, and create in their place,” noted Mr. Zervos.
