The number of full-day schools is increasing following a decision by the Council of Ministers, as announced by the Minister of Education, Sports, and Youth, Athina Michailidou, in remarks made at the Presidential Palace following the Cabinet meeting, noting that the number of full-day schools has now risen to 381 from 220 in 2023.
The Minister stated that the all-day school program is one of the government’s most important initiatives in the field of education.
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“This is a program that benefits both families and the schools themselves, as it gives us the opportunity to cultivate skills and promote the ‘school of skills’ that we are striving for,” he added.
He noted that today, the Cabinet increased the number of full-day schools that will begin operating in a few weeks, in September.
“Specifically, we have reached a total of 381 all-day schools across Cyprus, up from the 220 we inherited in 2023. Accordingly, we have also significantly increased the budget, reaching around 6 million, which is a substantial investment in this institution,” she added.
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She also noted that, in addition to the 60 new all-day schools operating this year, “we have approved three more today on an exceptional basis for specific reasons: the kindergarten in Dasaki, Achna, the third elementary school in Deryneia—the reason being that they are located in remote areas—as well as the elementary school in Souni Zanakia, which is located in an area affected by wildfires.”
“We have invested significantly over the past three years and are now seeing results in the all-day school program. Our efforts are not merely about numerical growth, but about substantive improvement, since we have changed the working conditions of our teachers. We now have contracts with our teachers, who are appointed by the Educational Services Commission; we have detailed curricula, so the All-Day School is not just a daycare center—it’s a place of learning. We have a curriculum, and we have assessment. It is integrated with the morning school program, because we give the school principal time to also supervise the afternoon program, and of course we provide oversight and conduct evaluations through our inspectors,” he added.
Source: CNA
