Demographic trends lead to fall in pupil numbers

Data on primary school students show the impact of current demographic trends, with the total number of students at primary level dropping for the eighth year in a row to 54,522 in the academic year, from recent peak of 63,516 in 2001/02.
The number of secondary-level pupils dropped for the third year on a row to 64,611, from a recent peak of 65,790 in 2006/07.
Despite the fall in the number of pupils, the number of teachers at all levels continues to climb, reaching 4,754 for primary level in 2009/10, 7,692 at secondary level and 1,778 at tertiary level.
Public expenditure on education has also climbed, reaching EUR 1.32 bln or 7.8% of GDP in 2009, compared with EUR 486.3 mln or 5.7% of GDP in 1999.

Number of tertiary students slips in 2009/10

The total number of students in tertiary education in the academic year 2009/10 reached 52,284, down slightly from 53,459 in 2008/09.
The total number of students in Cyprus, however, was 32,233, higher than the 30,986 recorded in the previous year.
Of the total in 2009/10 in Cyprus, 21,095 were Cypriots and 11,128 were foreign students.
The number of students studying abroad in the academic year 2009/10 reached 20,051, down from 21,472 in the previous year.
Most students abroad study in Greece (10,262) and the United Kingdom (7,983).
There are more male students (26,876) than male students (25,408) but among Cypriots, there are more female Cypriots students at home and abroad (22,505) than males (18,641).
Among the total population, 31% of people (32% of females, 30% of males) aged 20 and over have tertiary education.
Fiona Mullen
www.sapientaeconomics.com