Education System in Cyprus

A presentation by pupils of Constantinoupoleos Gymnasium

Jan 2015

Nursery (Kindergarten) and Preschool

A nursery school is optional and is available in public and in private sector. There are also communal nurseries and preschools that are administered by the local community but are overseen by the ministry of Education. A child can go to nursery from the age of 0-5. Public nurseries and preschools must be approved by the ministry of Education and must fulfill certain requirements. It is mandatory for a child to go to Preschool for one year before attending Primary school.

The aims of nursery and preschool are to

• Promote creative expressions and thoughts• Encourage children to explore their potentials. • Develop their personality, self esteem and self confidence.• Prepare children for Junior school

Junior school

Junior school is compulsory and it can be public or private. It is a 6 year education period. The average age for a child to enter junior school is 6 and 12 when they graduate from it.

The main objective of Primary Education is to organize, ensure and offer to all the children, independent of age, sex, intellectual capabilities, family and social background, such teaching opportunities, so that they:

Develop in a balanced way at the knowledge, emotional and psychokinetic level, taking advantage to the greatest degree possible, the means offered by modern technology.

Lower Secondary Education (Gymnasium)

The aim of Gymnasium is to continue the development of students in relation to capabilities of their age and corresponding demands of life. It complements the general education which primary school provides and prepares students to accept the increased general humanistic education which it provides, preparing them at the same time to attend, the Unified Lyceum or the Technical Education. It is a compulsory 3 year education either in public or private sector.

The subjects of the Gymnasium are common for all students. Extensive analytical programs exist for all subjects. Teaching hours are 37 for all three grades of the Gymnasium.

There are a number of facilities rooms in a typical gymnasium, Library, Computer Room, Technology Room, Physics-Chemistry-Biology Labs, Football ground, Basketball courts, indoor sport activity hall and of course a canteen.

Objectives of Secondary Education

Providing general education for cultivating an extended epistemology background

Developing skills: mental skills, analysis and synthesis skills, creative and critical thinking and communication

Developing good stasis-behaviors: cooperation, respect, acceptance of diversity in all its forms

Cultivation of the values of democracy, militancy, boldness, social responsibility of social justice and solidarity

Knowledge of foreign languages Promotion of independent learning Update on national issues, growing militancy, peaceful

coexistence and creating conditions for the reunification of our country

Unified Lyceum or the Technical Education

This is not compulsory education but the vast majority of children in Cyprus complete it. It is a 3 year period and the pupil has a number of choices to choose from.

• Unified Lyceum. It is a continuation of the Gymnasium, a student has the flexibility to form his own program in accordance with his interests and aptitudes. The duration is 3 years.

• Secondary Technical and Vocational Education is offered in two streams, a Theoretical and a Practical. The duration of education for both streams is three years. Upon successful completion of the program, students of TVE are awarded a school leaving certificate, which is recognized as equivalent to a School Leaving Certificate of a public six-grade secondary school. A pupil may choose one of the following , Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering – Architecture, Design, Woodwork – Furniture manufacture, Artistic Studies, Clothing, Hairdressing, Agronomy, Hotel and Catering services.

• Music Lyceum and Athletic Lyceum. A student may choose to attend one of two when they have shown proven ability in a sport or music category. They follow the same path as the unified Lyceum plus additional hours for practicing their sport or music interest.

Apprenticeship Scheme

Apprenticeship Scheme applies mainly to students, who after the 3rd grade of Gymnasium, do not intend to continue their education in schools of the system of formal education. Students eligible to register in the Apprenticeship Scheme are those who have studied in the 2nd grade of Gymnasium and have reached their 15th year of age or will reach it the latest by December 31 of the year of their registration. Education in the Apprenticeship Scheme lasts for two years. It provides interchangeable Practical and Theoretical Training. Practical Training is provided by employment of trainees in industry, three days a week, on a salaried work basis. Theoretical Training is provided in the Technical Schools, two days a week. The special courses offered by the Apprenticeship Scheme are: Construction worker, Car Engineers, Car Electricians, Rolling mill operators - Solderers, Aluminum Constructors, Plumbers - Welders, Electricians, Cabinetmakers -Carpenters, Cutting - Sewing.

Higher Education

In the last decade many private universities have been set up in Cyprus. There is public university, which is the most popular among the Cypriot students and is highly reputable. There are number of colleges as well.

Cypriot students also like to study at Greek universities because of the language and the relative low cost. Other main destinations for Cypriot students are UK based universities and the US. Since Cyprus joined the EU there is a flow to universities in EU countries like Germany, Holland, France. Italy has been the favorite destination for students studying Fashion Design, Artistic Studies and Jewelry Design especially in Florence and Milan.

Η παιδεία, καθάπερ ευδαίμων χώρα, πάντα τ’ αγαθά φέρει. Education is like a fruitful land, it brings all the goods.

Socrates

Presentation of our School

Our school is located in Nicosia, capital of Cyprus, at the municipality of Strovolos.It was build in 1989 , it took its name from Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, the modern city of Istanbul, Turkey. The emblem of the school is the two headed eagle over the church of Agia Sophia. The 2 headed eagle was the emblem of Byzantium and its 2 heads represent East and West. The cross and the sphere symbolize the spiritual and cosmic authority of the Emperor.