In the new school year 2026-2027 there will be significant changes in the daily life of the school, said the Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Athena Michailidou, presenting on Friday, data regarding the start of the new school year.
Referring to the main priorities of the Ministry, Ms. Michailidou said that they are the shift to skills, the new evaluation system, the modernization of special education and the modernization of the admission system.
Referring to this year, the Minister of Education described it as different, noting that changes are being consolidated, policies are being adopted and it is the year in which they are proceeding with their programs to upgrade the education system.
"The goal was and remains twofold. To have a more inclusive, more humane school for all and on the other hand a more effective school, better results," she added.
She said that the Cypriot education system is one of the most expensive systems in Europe, with low learning outcomes.
"So, we are proceeding with reforms in a targeted manner, clearly, with changes. If we don't do them, we won't get the results we want and I'm not just talking about the international exams here. From the political decision and our framework, which is the governance program, to the change we want in the daily life of the school, we follow political decisions, we adopt political decisions, we work with everyone and we implement to have results, which internally we measure and see and monitor", she added.
She said, at the same time, that in the years that have passed and to come, they have been working on reforms in the school itself that contribute to social cohesion and development, to how and what children learn.
"We do not stop at the declaration. Problems and issues will always exist. We are talking about 800 schools, tens of thousands of students and thousands of teachers of all levels. We don't have a magic wand to start our school years without any problems. However, we have the readiness and mechanisms to deal with issues that arise either at the beginning or afterwards, so that our school is a school of skills, safe and as much as possible in cooperation with the family", she added.
Regarding the unified direction in policies and actions for 2026-2027, the Minister said that in Primary Education they emphasize, among other things, the integration of digital skills, the updating and modernization of curricula, the continuation and upgrading of financial education in the sixth grade, the strengthening and improvement of the operation of optional all-day schools, the further expansion of free compulsory pre-primary education with a corresponding reduction in the admission threshold (4 years and 4 months) – this year approximately 1,925 students benefit, the provision of increased teaching time for the teaching of Greek as a second language to children with a migrant biography in all schools.
Also in the creation of supporting material for the teaching of Greek, in the framework of the project "Greek in primary school: Support for teachers and third-country nationals", in the provision of teaching time to 80 schools that continue the program of remedial teaching of functional literacy, in the implementation of legislation and taking specific measures, for the cultivation of mental resilience, in the installation and operation of security cameras.
In Secondary Education, the Minister said, priorities are the updating and modernization of Curricula, the targeted reduction of the syllabus, the emphasis on the integration of digital skills, the continuation and upgrading of Financial Education and Literacy, the institutionalization and upgrading of Sports and Music Schools, the strengthening of the operation of All-Day Secondary Schools, interdisciplinary – scientific learning, The implementation of legislation and the taking of specific measures to cultivate mental resilience, the installation and operation of security cameras.
The Minister also referred to the upgrading of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, saying, among other things, that this includes the Technical Gymnasium – with the extension of a pilot application to two more schools and the interconnection with the labour market – skills cultivation, the upgrading of MIEEK, the modernization of laboratories, laboratory equipment – 391 laboratories, the experiential, interactive and engaging learning experience, enhancing the quality of teaching.
The Minister of Education stated, at the same time, that there are no particular problems at the start of the new school year, adding that their goal is one, the smooth operation of schools for the good of the children and to serve the work of teachers.
Regarding the infrastructure, Ms. Michailidou pointed out that the school is becoming safer and everyday life is improving. In summary, she referred to the upgrade of school facilities (23 large-scale projects), with a total expenditure of more than €125 million, the anti-seismic upgrade with 93% of the project to be completed, fire safety - certification year, the installation of photovoltaics (completed) and the doubling of security cameras.
The Chief Fire Marshal of the Fire Service, Nikos Longinos, in his intervention regarding the issue of fire safety, said, among other things, that there is an excellent cooperation with the Ministry of Education in terms of the maintenance of schools, adding that as a Fire Service it is next to the Ministry to implement the goals it has set.
"We all understand that the danger, especially from a fire, is extremely high. So there should be all those measures, which we will be sure that in the event of an incident, students and teachers will be able to easily have an exit to an open space, based on the action plans", he added.
He noted that a great effort has begun, there are some gaps, "but we are at the disposal of the Ministry, to see the plans, to look at the schools and to do what we have to do to correct it".
Emphasis on pedagogical issues
The Minister said, at the same time, that they start the school year with an emphasis on pedagogical issues, while they also support and emphasize all regional issues, which have to do with safety and health.
"Our reforms are not on paper. We don't want it to be on paper. There will be problems, as long as there is this good cooperation with everyone, we solve them through dialogue, with partnerships," she noted.
Asked when the institutionalization and upgrading of the Sports and Music School is expected to proceed, the Minister said that "we are in the legislative technical control now, so it is expected within the next period to go to the Council of Ministers and then to the Parliament, to operate from the next school year. It is already in the Legal Service", she said.
CNA
