Berri Greek Orthodox Community (BGOC) language school in regional South Australia is at the risk of closure due to a decline in enrolments ever since 2022, according to ABC News.
BGOC president, Aphrodite Koutouzis, told ABC News enrolments were consistent between 2019 and 2021, but numbers dropped from 12 to seven last year.
She hopes enrolments will jump to 15 this year or else it will be ‘difficult’ to keep the school ‘active.’
Community Language Schools SA executive officer, Brett Shuttleworth, said he encourages anyone who can support the school to do so openly.
“You know the old saying, ‘You don’t appreciate something until you lose it’,” Mr Shuttleworth said.
Ms Koutouzis also encouraged the local Greek community in the SA Riverland to help the local language school.
She pointed out the benefits of studying Greek include being able to communicate with family and grandparents, as well as for travelling to Greece and for work opportunities.
“It helps to continue being able to speak the language because once you stop, it dies out,” Ms Koutouzis said.
Source: ABC News
