As shown in the above diagram, the Director of Primary Education heads the Department of Primary Education and is responsible for:
the organization, administration and the overseeing and monitoring of the functioning of primary, Pre-Primary and special education schools, the schools of the Cyprus Educational Mission in the UK, the Adult Education Centres, and the Educational and Summer Camps.
the organization, administration and the overseeing and monitoring of the Primary Education teaching staff and Inspectorate.
the planning and coordination of the work carried out in schools as well as the work carried out by the Primary Education Inspectorate.
the organization of educational conferences and training for Primary Education teaching staff.
the consultancy on issues related to Primary Education.
Inspector General of Primary Education
The Inspector General of Primary Education, along with five Chief Education Officers, are second in hierarchy in the Department of Primary Education.
The Inspector General of Primary Education is responsible for:
the general inspection of primary schools and their teaching staff.
the monitoring, coordination and standardization of Inspectors and the organizing and participation in large scale inspections.
active participation in the organization of conferences, seminars and training for the teaching staff and the Inspectorate of Primary Education.
carrying out administrative and/or other relevant duties.
Chief Education Officers
One of the Chief Education Officers takes over administrative duties at the office of the Director of Primary Education. The rest of the Chief Education Officers are in charge of the District Education Offices for Primary Education in Lefkosia, Lemesos, Larnaka/Ammochostos, Pafos).
Chief Education Officers are responsible for:
the organization, administration and effective functioning of areas which lie within the responsibilities of the Department of Primary Education. These include inspection of private and public primary schools, exams, programme development, educational research etc.
the monitoring, coordination and standardization of inspectors in their particular district.
the monitoring of enforcement of the regulations regarding the work of schools and other organizations and sectors of Primary Education in their district.
the inspection of schools, organizations and other sectors of Primary Education (private and state education) and of their teaching staff, depending on the needs of their district.
the active participation in the organization of conferences, seminars and training on educational issues.
carrying out administrative and other special duties.
District Education Offices
The District Education Officers are responsible for the administration of all the schools (Primary, Pre-Primary and Special Education) of their district. The direct monitoring and coordination of the schools and the teaching staff is carried out by the inspectors of Primary, Pre-Primary and Special Education. The number of inspectors for each District Education Office is relevant to the number of schools and the number of pupils registered in each district. Primary Education inspectors can be either General Education Inspectors or Inspectors of Special Subjects (English, Music, Physical Education and Art) and are responsible for the administration, and the smooth functioning and inspection of Primary Schools. The Pre-Primary and Special Education Inspectors are in charge of the administration and the smooth functioning, and inspection of Pre-Primary Schools, Special Education Schools and Special Education Units.
Primary Education Inspector of General Education
The Primary Education Inspector of General Education is responsible for the following:
Undertakes inspection and guidance of primary school teachers and cooperates with the headteacher on administrative and educational issues and with Inspectors of Special Subjects on issues relating to their specializations.
Participates actively in organizing and carrying out educational conferences, seminars and training courses for the teaching staff.
Undertakes administrative duties and/or other special duties, such as coordination, planning and the development of educational programmes, educational research, surveys, exams etc.
Inspector of Special Subjects of Primary Education, Inspector of Pre-Primary Schools and Inspector of Special Education
The Inspector of Special Subjects of Primary Education, the Inspector of Pre-Primary Schools and the Inspector of Special Education:
Undertakes inspection and guidance of primary school teachers in the area of his/her specialization and cooperates with the headteacher and inspectors of general education about administrative and educational issues which concern the school.
Participates actively in organizing and carrying out educational conferences, seminars and training courses for the teaching staff.
Undertakes administrative duties and/or other special duties, such as coordination, planning and the development of educational programmes, educational research, surveys, exams etc.
The school units (Primary schools, Pre-Primary schools, Special schools) are staffed by the headteacher (according to the size of the school unit), one or more deputy headteachers (according to the size of the school unit), and the teachers.
Primary Schools
The cornerstone of Primary Education objectives has always been the balanced development of children’s personality by creating situations which will help them in the conquest of knowledge and the development of appropriate attitudes and skills, thereby rendering them capable for their future undertaking of responsibilities and actions in our constantly changing world.
A basic aim of Primary Education is to organize, ensure and offer all children - regardless of age, gender, family or social background and intellectual abilities - learning opportunities that will allow them to:
achieve a balanced cognitive, emotional and psychomotor development while taking full advantage of the means offered by modern technology.
successfully resolve the various problems they could potentially face and the possible difficulties they might find in adapting to their school and wider environment.
develop positive attitudes towards learning.
develop social understanding, resiliency, belief in humanitarian values, respect for cultural heritage and human rights.
appreciate the ‘beautiful’ and develop a disposition for creativity and love towards life and nature, so as to become effectively sensitized towards issues of environmental sustainability and environmental improvement. More information...
Pre-Primary Schools
Pre-Primary Education carries out work of fundamental importance to the qualitative upgrade of Primary Education. This view of Pre-Primary agrees with the European educational reality and the outcomes of scientific educational research. Cyprus, as a member of the Council of Europe and as a full member of the European Union, adopts programmes which relate and correspond to the European ones.
The Cyprus Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth is responsible for the education of children aged three years and over, attending public, community and private Pre-Primary schools. Pre-Primary Education completes and complements the work of the family; supporting fully the development of the child, fulfilling basic needs of the child’s personality and offering the child supportive and constructive experiences which aim to help the child understand clearly his/her abilities and develop a positive self-esteem.
The Pre-Primary school educational programme aims towards a way of life which maintains, as much as possible, elements from the natural life of a family, emphasizing free and creative activities through individualized child-centered approaches in an environment which supports cooperative learning, experimentation and group work. Emphasis is placed on giving personal attention to each and every individual child, according to his/her particularities, talents and needs. Emphasis is also given to love, support, trust, acceptance, safety and to respecting individual differences, particularities and otherness. More information...
Occupied Schools
Despite the obstacles and the censorship which were imposed by the occupying authorities, there were initially three primary schools functioning in the occupied areas: one in Rizokarpaso, one in Agia Triada and one in Kormakitis. During the school year 1996-1997, the Primary School of Agia Triada closed, despite the intense efforts of the Cypriot Government, due to the refusal of the occupying regime to allow the teacher Mrs Eleni Foka to return to her village. During the school year 1999-2000 the Primary School of Kormakitis, which was functioning until the previous school year with one pupil, was closed because of the graduation of this sole pupil.
During the school year 2004-2005, after continuous, insistent and laborious efforts of the Cypriot Government, the Gymnasium of Rizokarpaso functioned again for the first time after the Turkish invasion in 1974. During the same school year, but almost towards the end of the school year, on the 11th of April 2005, the functioning of the Rizokarpaso Pre-Primary School was also made possible.
Nevertheless, problems such as censorship of textbooks, not accepting Greek Cypriot educators and efforts to restrict and control the action of the schools, are reported every year since 1974, since the occupying regime continuously puts obstacles to the functioning of the schools and generally to the lives of the enclaved people.
Despite the problems imposed on the smooth functioning of the occupied schools by the occupying regimes, the education provided to all pupils of Primary and Secondary Education is considered to be satisfactory. The Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, in cooperation with the Service of Humanitarian Matters, manage to send all the necessary materials, textbooks and stationery to the schools and the Committee of Educational Service responds immediately to the needs of the three schools as regards teaching staff.
Special Schools
The Department of Primary Education is also responsible for the functioning of special schools. In Cyprus there are only nine special schools, since the educational policy of the Ministry concerning children with special needs, is their inclusion in mainstream schools.
Based on the basic provisions of the Laws and Regulations, the State identifies children with special needs from the age of three. A multidisciplinary team of experts carries out a full assessment of the children’s needs and the state later provides them with all the necessary means, facilitations, exemptions and special help by educators or support personnel so as to ensure the children’s smooth attendance in mainstream schools. More information...
The Cyprus Educational Mission in Great Britain
The Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth supports the efforts of the Greek Cypriot community in the United Kingdom to maintain and develop the national (religious, cultural, linguistic) identity of its children, through the work of the Cyprus Educational Mission of Great Britain.
The Cyprus Educational Mission is staffed by the Head of the Cyprus Educational Mission, as well as seconded teachers, the number of which is based on current needs and developments. The seconded teachers of the Cyprus Educational Mission are currently twenty-four. There is also additional, part-time teaching staff working at the schools of the Cyprus Educational Mission.
Furthermore, the Cyprus Educational Mission in Great Britain offers Greek Cypriot pupils, opportunities to become familiar with the customs and traditions of their country through the organization of national and religious festivities.
Education for the Greek Children of the Diaspora
The Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth offers educational support to the people of the Greek Diaspora. In particular, the Ministry:
sends textbooks and other educational material to Greek schools and organizations of the Greek Diaspora, provided that relevant requests have been submitted to the Ministry.
hosts groups of children from various communities of the Diaspora at the Ministry’s educational camps. During their stay at the camp, the children have opportunities to come in contact with the Greek Language, as well as the Cypriot culture.
offers assistance and support to repatriated Cypriots, such as free Greek language lessons.
supports the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem by sending two teachers to work at the schools of the Patriarchate.
Educational and Summer Camps
The Educational and Summer Camps are organized by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth and aim to offer opportunities to primary education pupils, from Cyprus and other countries, to get to know and love nature, develop relationships and friendships with their peers, become acquainted with the Greek language and the Cyprus history and culture.
The Educational and Summer Camps offer children the opportunity to spend some time in an organized community away from their family environment. This helps the children develop in the areas of socialization, self-respect and self-awareness. They learn how to look after themselves and develop a sense of responsibility and cooperation. The camps also help towards the improvement of children’s health and offer an organized form of entertainment. Moreover, the summer and educational camps implement modern educational trends and educate through experiential learning, environmental education and active participation of all the children in the organizing of the camp’s social life.
Educational Camps function for two periods per year; October and May-June. During these times pupils from primary schools in Cyprus (4th, 5th and 6th grade) as well as pupils studying at schools in the Cyprus Educational mission of Great Britain, can participate in the camps, while being escorted by their teachers.
Summer Camps function during summer and host children from Cyprus primary schools as well as Greek-heritage children from abroad (Greece, the UK, Australia, etc.).
Furthermore, within the framework of educational exchanges organized with the Ministry of Education of Greece, Cypriot primary pupils can participate in summer camps which take place in Greece.
Adult Education Centres
The Adult Education Centres is a significant programme which provides general adult education in Cyprus within the framework of providing lifelong learning opportunities. The main objective of the Adult Education Centres is the general development of each adult’s personality as well as the social, financial and cultural development of citizens and society in general. Their aims coincide with the state’s developmental policy and the wider aims of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth regarding the provision of "Lifelong Learning" opportunities for all the citizens of the Republic of Cyprus and the combating of educational inequalities so that citizens may be successfully integrated and be enabled to act efficiently in a united Europe.
The Adult Education Centres were, initially, established, mainly in rural areas, in 1952. In 1960, following the independence of the Republic of Cyprus, 175 centres functioned with 3750 members. From 1974 onwards they have expanded in most urban areas as well, and today they function in all non-occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus, offering learning opportunities for further personal, professional and social development to thousands of adults aged 15 and over.
The Adult Education Centres offer a variety of interdisciplinary courses which focus mainly on the teaching of foreign languages, arts and crafts, cultural programmes, health and other issues of general interest, as well as on teaching professional and vocational skills.
Furthermore, every year the Adult Education Centres organise free of charge learning activities for various target groups, such as people with special needs, enclaved Cypriots, prisoners, etc. They also offer, free of charge, Greek language courses to children of repatriated Cypriots, to political refugees and to Turkish Cypriots. Moreover, Turkish language courses are offered free of charge to Greek Cypriots.
The Adult Education Centres have been acknowledged by the citizens of the Republic of Cyprus as the most important programme of general adult education with the provision of a variety of qualitative courses.
