Cyprus to reform educational system

Education and Culture Minister Akis Kleanthous outlined the Ministry’s comprehensive plan to modernise the educational system within the next three years.
The proposal, inter alia, provides for a new teachers’ appointment system to replace the existing system based on a waiting list, a new teachers’ assessment scheme, administrative and educational autonomy of school units, the establishment of peripheral schools replacing small school units in the countryside, the introduction of a computerised automation system in schools, the restructuring of local school boards, as well as the increase of students in state universities.
The goal of this overhaul is to maintain the credibility of the educational system and of state schools through quality education and full exploitation of human resources, Kleanthous said.
He added that the plan will be tabled to the Councils for Educational Reform for discussion with a view to conclude a dialogue on the proposed reforms within three months. Following that, the government will take the final decisions on the matter.
The Ministry also intents to close small school units mainly in the countryside, and replace them with bigger peripheral schools.
Kleanthous said that the Ministry’s proposal envisages the gradual termination of the appointment of teachers based on a waiting list. In the first phase 60% of teachers will be appointed after written examinations and personal interviews and 40% will be appointed out of the waiting list. This procedure will be applied for three years, while the percentage of teachers to be appointed out of the waiting list will be reduced by 10% per year until the appointment of all teachers will only be made after examinations and personal interviews.
The Ministry also proposes to increase the number of students in state universities by 2,000 by 2010 so that the total number will reach 10,000.