The Education System in Cyprus

Education was offered in Greek and Turkish schools for the Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots respectively, and be inspected by the two communities which is according to the 1960 constitution of Cyprus. Education policies are formulated by the Ministry of Education and Culture and approved by the Council of Ministers. Education is provided through pre-primary and primary schooling, secondary general and secondary technical/vocational schools, special schools, third level institutions and non-formal institutions and centers. The education in the country of Cyprus is mandatory up to age of 12.

Today there are nursery schools operating all over the island. The educational program of Nursery Schools (kindergartens) retains as many elements of the natural way of living of the family as possible.

According to the Education Acts for Elementary Education, primary school means a state school financed and administered by the government, which provides 6 year compulsory schooling to children who complete 5 years and 8 months of age. Primary education is both free and compulsory. The government pays the salaries of the teachers and hands out annual grants to all local authorities according to the number of pupils in their area.

The government policy of Cyprus is to encourage and support the integration of children with special needs into the ordinary educational system and provide them with the opportunity to grow and learn together with their “non-handicapped” peers.

Public secondary education offers a 6-year program of instruction for children aged 12 to 18. Having a general education orientation, it is compulsory for the first three years when children reach their fifteenth birthday. In the last three years, it follows a more flexible and diverse orientation, catering to individual inclinations, aptitudes and interests.