Back-to-school for students island wide (Update 2)

By Iole Damaskinos and Nikolaos Prakas

The first day of school for thousands of secondary school students began on Thursday, as children returned to their desks and gymnasiums and lyceums.

A total of 46,479 children returned to school, with President Nikos Christodoulides focussing on the importance he and his team are putting on the matter of education in statements while visiting a school in Nicosia.

Speaking at the Acropolis Gymnasium, he said: “The most important thing for us is that you come to school happy and joyful, that you come to a place where you learn, create and help you develop your abilities and skills.”

After making statements, he spoke with students about the first day of school and how they felt.

The president asked the students if they were happy to be back at school, and asked for their opinion on what could be changed to make the students happier. In addition to the issue of air conditioners, the issue of uniform was also raised, with a junior student asking to wear short pants.

A third year Gymnasium student also asked the president if there is any intention to change the exam system again, with the president replying that the issue of twice-yearly exams has been resolved.

He added that they do not want an education where the main goal and stress of teachers is to cover material. In addition, he added that the grade at the end of the year will not only be determined by the final exams, but also by other ways of evaluation, such as class participation, studies, etc.

Another student from the same class asked the president how they plan to modernise the schools. He replied that the technological means should also be present in the school to help the education.

In addition, the president said that the goal is to start vocational guidance from the sixth year of primary school, because it is important for students to be in contact with the professions and for students to be able to develop their inclinations and skills.

During the new school year 2023-2024, a total of 113 general secondary schools will operate, of which 62 gymnasiums, 36 lyceums and 10 six-form schools with a complete middle and high school cycle, according to data from the ministry of education relayed to the Cyprus News Agency.

Additionally, five evening gymnasium-lyceums will operate, for which registrations will be completed in mid-September.

It is expected that a total of 41,605 students will attend for 2023-2024, of which 24,160 will study in lyceums and 17,445 in gymnasiums staffed with 6,650 teachers.

Sixteen technical and mixed schools will also operate attended by 4,874 students and staffed with 684 teachers.

Younger students will return to their desks on Monday in 612 schools, of which 329 are primary, 274 kindergarten, and nine special education schools.

The schools are staffed with 7,078 educators, of which 4,948 primary teachers, 973 kindergarten teachers, and 1,157 special teachers assigned within all schools.

The total number of elementary students is 64,748, of which 51,371 are in primary schools, 12,853 in kindergarten and 524 in special schools.

According to the ministry’s data 9,323 students will enter school this year compared with 9,068 last year.