Cypriot students' performance in basic skills is declining, with the data published by the European Commission in its 2025 Education and Training Monitoring Report being highly revealing and alarming.
Six out of ten 15-year-olds struggle with reading, while more than half score low in math. 53.2% do not meet the minimum proficiency level, while the European average stands at 29.5%, while only 3.9% of 15-year-olds demonstrate advanced skills, compared to 7.9% in the EU.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds show even greater weaknesses, and the picture is similar in the natural sciences.
“Low levels of basic skills can undermine the country’s competitiveness. (…) Further efforts are needed to improve educational outcomes, including by fostering a culture of assessment.”
European Commission
Compared to their European peers, Cypriot students simultaneously exhibit lower levels of both digital skills and civic education.
Higher Education
Students’ underperformance in the natural sciences is also reflected in the smaller number of students enrolled in related programs. In 2023, this percentage stood at 14.9%. This is significantly below both the EU average and the European target of 32% by 2030.
Although Cyprus has one of the highest rates of completion of higher education, is among the few countries where the employment rate of university graduates is lower than that of vocational education and training graduates.
Watch the report by Raffaella Stavrinou:
