THE CYPRUS EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
Presentation by Ninos Josephides
Design and Technology Inspector
Ministry of Education and Culture-Cyprus
Study Visit - November 2010 – Limassol (Cyprus)
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HISTORICAL MOMENTS
 1960: The establishment of the Republic of Cyprus
 Greek Cypriots – Turkish Cypriots
( Separate administrations for education but both
controlled by the government)
 1960: Free primary education
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1964: Inter-communal problems
1972: Free secondary education
1974: Turkish invasion
1992: University of Cyprus
2004: Accession to the EU
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ORGANISATION AND STRUCTURE
 Centralised educational
administration
 Highest authority of the Ministry of
Education and Culture: the Minister
followed by the Permanent Secretary
 Other departments and services help
the overall functioning of the system
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ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE MINISTRY OF
EDUCATION AND CULTURE
MINISTER
PERMANENT SECRETARY
(GENERAL DIRECTOR)
ADMINISTRATION
PRIMARY
EDUCATION
SECONDARY
EDUCATION
TECHNICAL
AND
VOCATIONAL
EDUCATION
COUNSELING AND
CAREER
EDUCATION
SERVICE
PLANNING
HIGHER
AND
TERTIARY
EDUCATION
REGISTRY
PEDAGOGICAL
INSTITUTE
CENTRE OF
EDUCATIONAL
RESEARCH AND
EVALUATION
CURRICULUM
DEVELOPMENT
UNIT
ACCOUNTS
OFFICE
CULTURAL
SERVICES
EU & INTERNATIONAL
AFFAIRS
TECHNICAL
SERVICES
OTHER
SERVICES
AND
UNITS
EDUCATIONAL
PSYCOLOGY
SERVICE
SCHOOL
CLERKS UNIT
CYPRUS
RESEARCH
CENTRE
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RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MINISTRY
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Administration of education
Enforcement of educational laws
Preparation of educational bills
Prescription of syllabi, curricula and
textbooks
Regulation and supervision of educational
institutions
Construction of school buildings
Maintenance and equipment: shared
responsibility with local School Boards
Public education is mainly financed by the
Government
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EDUCATIONAL SERVICE COMMISSION
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Appointments
Promotions
Transfers
Secondments
Disciplinary matters of teaching
personnel
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PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS
 Owned, administered and financed
by individuals or bodies
 Registered with the Ministry of
Education and Culture
 Comply with certain curriculum and
facility requirements mandated by
the Law
 Supervised by the Ministry
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STAGES IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Pre-primary

Primary

Secondary, technical
and vocational

Higher and tertiary
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PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION
 Its importance is recognised by the
Government
 Since 2004, it is compulsory and free
for one year prior to attending the
primary school
 Three types of pre-primary institutions:
public, community and private
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PRIMARY EDUCATION
 Six-year free and compulsory
 Teacher salaries paid by the Government
 Annual grants to School Boards
 Schools in every town and village with 15+
pupils
 Pupil/teacher ratio 17:1
 Class size: Grade 1-5: 25 pupils maximum,
Grade 6: 30 pupils maximum
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SECONDARY EDUCATION
 LOWER (GYMNASIUM)
– Basic general education that is compulsory for three years
– Efforts to upgrade the Gymnasium according to the
demands of the society
 UPPER (LYCEUM)
– UNIFIED LYCEUM

Provides education in line with modern trends
in education and in particular those of Europe
– TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Quite substantial contribution to the economic
and industrial development of Cyprus
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HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION
 Operation and expansion of the three
public universities (University of
Cyprus, Open University of Cyprus and
Technological University of Cyprus)
 Public schools of Higher Education
 Programmes offered can be accredited
by the Council of Educational
Evaluation and Accreditation
 Upgrading of private schools of
tertiary education and establishment
of private universities
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SOME NUMERICAL DATA
Type
Number of schools
Public nursery schools
252
Public primary schools
345
Gymnasium
(lower secondary)
Unified Lyceums
(comprehensive-upper
secondary)
Technical Vocational
Schools
Evening schools
(secondary and technical)
68
40
12
5+1
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Programmes of study
Lower secondary
• Gymnasium
Upper secondary
• Form A- Lyceum (common core)
• Form B and C – Lyceum (common core +
options + interest/enrichment subjects)
• Secondary technical and vocational education
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Greek language taught to foreign students in primary schools
Academic year 2010-2011
District
No. of pupils
Nicosia
1129
Limassol
892
Larnaca/Famagusta
1041
Paphos
671
Total in Cyprus 3733
Total foreign pupils in primary schools- 6039
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Greek language taught to foreign students in secondary schools
Academic year 2010-2011
District
Gymnasium
(lower
secondary)
Nicosia
Limassol
Larnaca
Famagusta
Paphos
248
191
226
54
144
Lyceum and
Technical school
(upper
secondary)
87
57
136
20
50
Total in Cyprus
District Total
335
248
402
74
194
1253
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EDUCATIONAL REFORM
• The Government of the Republic of
Cyprus has launched an ambitious
educational reform programme,
inviting dialogue among all
interested parties, with a view to
turn into reality the vision of a better
educational system that would meet
pupils´ future needs and society's
challenges
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GOALS OF INNOVATIONS
 Offer of flexible, multifaceted
programmes, which combine general
education, enriched, to a certain extent,
with elements of technology education, in
order to satisfy the needs of contemporary
citizens, offering to them opportunities for
lifelong learning
 Offer equal educational opportunities for
all, according to ability, in a way that
abolishes social exclusion
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GOALS OF INNOVATIONS (2)
 Meet the needs of children with functional
illiteracy and special needs in an effective
way
 Modernise education in order to
successfully respond to international
challenges, affecting its content, such as
the progress in technology and science
and the globalisation of economy
 Service to the general goals of the
country, such as the upgrading of its role
as an international and peripheral
educational centre
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INNOVATIONS INTRODUCED
 Restructure of the curricula from preprimary to upper secondary education
 Education of children with special needs
 Pre-service teacher training (secondary
education)
 Induction programme for newly
appointed teachers
 Establishment of all day schools
 Adoption of contemporary teaching
methodologies
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INNOVATIONS INTRODUCED (2)
 Establishment of the Centre of Educational
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Research and Evaluation
Expansion of the use of ICT and, generally, of
multimedia
Tertiary Education
 four-year cycle of studies has been established for
most of the courses offered
 new postgraduate courses have been added to
the universities curricula
Promotion of the European dimension,
implemented through European Union's
educational programmes
Adoption of the Bologna Process
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WE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE IN MIND THAT
 If you plan for one year,
plant rice.
 If you plan for ten years,
plant trees.
 If you plan for centuries,
educate people.
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Thank you for your attention!
Reference:
A Guide to Education in Cyprus – www.moec.gov.cy
The Cyprus Educational System (presentation): Dr Andreas Tsiakkiros
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