THE CYPRUS EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Presentation by Ninos JosephidesDesign and Technology Inspector

Ministry of Education and Culture-Cyprus

Study Visit - November 2010 – Limassol (Cyprus)1

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

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

PERMANENT SECRETARY(GENERAL DIRECTOR)

PEDAGOGICAL

INSTITUTE

CENTRE OF EDUCATIONAL

RESEARCH AND

EVALUATION

CULTURALSERVICES

OTHERSERVICE

SAND

UNITS

PRIMARYEDUCATION

SECONDARY

EDUCATION

HIGHER AND

TERTIARYEDUCATION

TECHNICALAND

VOCATIONAL

EDUCATION

TECHNICAL

SERVICES

ADMINISTRATION

PLANNING REGISTRY ACCOUNTS

OFFICE

EU & INTER-NATIONAL AFFAIRS

COUNSELING AND CAREER EDUCATION SERVICE

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT UNIT

EDUCATIONAL PSYCOLOGY

SERVICE

SCHOOL CLERKS UNIT

CYPRUS RESEARCH

CENTRE

MINISTER

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RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MINISTRY

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

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)

68

Unified Lyceums (comprehensive-upper secondary)

40

Technical Vocational Schools

12

Evening schools (secondary and technical)

5 + 114

Programmes of study

Lower secondary• GymnasiumUpper 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 schoolsAcademic year 2010-2011

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District No. of pupilsNicosia 1129Limassol 892Larnaca/Famagusta 1041Paphos 671 Total in Cyprus

3733

Total foreign pupils in primary schools- 6039

Greek language taught to foreign students in secondary schoolsAcademic year 2010-2011

District Gymnasium(lower secondary)

Lyceum and Technical school(upper secondary)

District Total

Nicosia 248 87 335Limassol 191 57 248Larnaca 226 136 402Famagusta 54 20 74Paphos 144 50 194 Total in Cyprus 1253

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EDUCATIONAL REFORMEDUCATIONAL 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 20

INNOVATIONS INTRODUCED Restructure of the curricula from pre-

primary 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 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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