Newsroom
For another year, students scored poorly in the Modern Greek Pancyprian exam, averaging 10.77 out of 20, renewing debate over language skills in schools. According to an article by Kathimerini's Christos Bouris, educators say the problem is less about the Cypriot dialect or reading habits and more about systemic flaws in how literacy is taught.
Linguist Dr. Elena Ioannidou of the University of Cyprus said the curriculum is shaped by the exam format, a “washback effect” that narrows instruction to essay writing and rote memorization. Students often produce formulaic texts disconnected from real-life communication, she said, leading to alienation from the subject and a lack of critical thinking.
Philologist Doxa Efstathiou called the results “an alarm bell” for the entire education system. Language competence underpins performance in all subjects, she said, but schools have cultivated an “exam culture” that values model answers over authentic thought. She urged a systemic overhaul focusing on comprehension, synthesis, argumentation, and personal expression.
The Ministry of Education said average scores across subjects have remained stable in recent years and pointed to an action plan starting in primary school aimed at improving Modern Greek results.
Experts dismissed claims that the Cypriot dialect hinders writing quality, saying literacy, not speech patterns, is the key challenge. They argued for teaching that connects with students’ interests and uses diverse text types, warning that without reform, language instruction will continue to stifle creativity and critical engagement.
