Newsroom
The French Cypriot School is facing mounting pressure over space, coexistence and public funding questions just as it prepares for its biggest step yet: opening a full high school program in Cyprus by 2027.
The issue has sparked public debate in recent weeks, particularly over the school’s presence in shared public school facilities in Limassol and claims that the state is subsidizing a private institution. In response, the Education Ministry stepped in this week, pushing back against what it called “false impressions” and reminding critics that the school operates under a long-standing interstate agreement between Cyprus and France.
The French Cypriot School was founded in 2012 in Nicosia following a formal agreement between the two countries. Under that deal, Cyprus provides school buildings, while France covers the cost of teachers, the director and other support. According to the ministry, this makes the school part of an official state-to-state cooperation, not a privately funded school receiving government handouts.
The school’s success in Nicosia, where it now serves around 450 students from more than 40 nationalities, led both governments to approve the opening of a Limassol branch in September 2022. That campus began with just nine students and has since grown to 65, with steady increases each year.
But the Limassol operation has not been without friction. The school currently operates within facilities of the First Urban School, a decision made after enrolment at the public school dropped significantly. As numbers at the French Cypriot School rise, coexistence issues have emerged during the current school year, prompting renewed criticism and calls for clarity.
The ministry acknowledged those challenges and said the accommodation issue is now under reassessment, particularly with the planned launch of the school’s high school cycle in September 2027, which will require additional space and long-term planning.
Officials also took aim at the way the issue entered the public debate, saying concerns should have been raised first through institutional channels rather than public statements that risk stirring unrest.
“The public discussion on education requires accuracy, documentation and institutional memory,” the ministry said, adding that it remains open to structured dialogue with all stakeholders.
For now, the French Cypriot School continues to operate under the existing framework, while authorities weigh next steps ahead of what could be a major expansion, one that will test how Cyprus balances international cooperation, public education space and growing parental demand.
