The school of Terra Santa is one of the two ethnic schools of the Maronite Community. It has its origins in 1641 when a team of Franciscan monks decided to establish a school aiming at the promotion of diligence and virtue. The school operated under the name of Terra Santa (School of the Holy Land) in 1646 under the responsibility and protection of the Order of Franciscan monks which has its base in Jerusalem. In the difficult years of the Turkish occupation of Cyprus, the school offered Elementary education. In 1936 it came into the hands of the British and in 1947 came back under the control of the Franciscan monks and changed its name to Terra Santa College. Previously the school operated in the Paphos Gate area whereas from 1955 the school moved to the whole owned new building in the Acropolis area of Nicosia. Since 1913 the school programs were extended also to secondary education.
Since 1970 a nursery is also operating. On 28th January 2013, a cooperation agreement was signed between the University of Cyprus and the Terra Santa College confirming that the College will operate as a model University of Cyprus High School. The school hosted students from all the Maronite villages, especially from Kormakitis, since the Franciscan nuns who maintain a monastery in Kormakitis had direct involvement with the school. Until today the Terra Santa School continues to be the center of education for many Maronite boys and girls. Today the school is divided into three sections: Nursery, Elementary, Gymnasium, and Lyceum. The school of Terra Santa is a multicultural school that promotes diversity and tolerance.
Terra Santa has contributed significantly to developing education in this country and that represented a great challenge among the other flourishing institutions in number and quality. Hence, the great efforts showed by the friars and the industrious work to develop their school. In the 1960s the first and second floors on the eastern side were added to accommodate the increasing numbers of students. Then, in the 1980s the church was built. In the year 1992 – 1993 the kindergarten sections were established. to be followed in 1998 by Terra Sancta cultural center, a treat offered by the Franciscan Custody in Jerusalem to our college in Amman, on the occasion of its golden jubilee. In 2011 Terra Santa College sports center was inaugurated. It includes an indoor hall for sports in addition to outdoor playgrounds.
