Cyprus to modernize education system starting 2024-25

Cyprus’ Minister of Education, Sports, and Youth, Athina Michaelidou, announced on Monday a series of planned changes aimed at modernizing the education system. Highlighting education as a government priority, Michaelidou outlined the key initiatives set to begin in the 2024-25 school year.

The planned reforms include:

- Curriculum Adjustments: Reducing the scope of the required curriculum to better align with modern educational needs.
- Expansion of All-Day Schools: Increasing the number of all-day schools to offer extended learning opportunities.
- Support for Special Needs: Adding more chaperones for children with special needs.
- Emphasis on Early Education: Strengthening pre-school education and introducing new subjects like financial literacy, counseling, and vocational education from the sixth grade.
- Promotion of Greek Language: Enhancing efforts to cultivate and promote the Greek language.
- Skills-Based Learning: Focusing on skills and abilities rather than just knowledge, and implementing formative assessment methods.

Additional measures include:

- Violence Prevention: Strengthening programs to prevent and address school violence and delinquency, including a pilot program for alternative education for students with severe behavioral issues.
- Legislative Discussions: Starting discussions on special/private education legislation and teacher evaluation.
- Digitization and School Safety: Advancing the digitization of education, increasing school security with guards and cameras, installing air conditioners in phases, and promoting a strategic plan for higher education.

These changes aim to modernize Cyprus’ educational framework and improve both student support and safety.