Everything went smoothly at the start of the new school year in secondary education, with absolutely no problems, George Koutsidis, Deputy Director of the Directorate of Secondary General Education, told CNA.
“It went quite well. There were no problems whatsoever,” he said. He mentioned one incident in Larnaca, where a message was sent to parents stating that students would be leaving school at 1:00 p.m., adding that “we informed the school, and they changed the message, so the students left when the final bell rang at 1:35 p.m.”
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“Everything went smoothly, without any problems whatsoever,” he added.
In response to a question about whether all students attended as usual, Mr. Koutsidis said he had not been informed by any school of low attendance, noting that the numbers were in line with expectations.
When asked if any staffing issues had arisen, Mr. Koutsidis said that there are some minor staffing issues, as teachers submit last-minute resignations or requests for early retirement, but he noted that these cases are few, amounting to only 0.3%.
When asked what he is looking forward to in the new school year, Mr. Koutsidis said that “I’m really looking forward to a partnership between the school, the students, and their families, which should last until the end of the year.”
“We’re optimistic; we’re here to listen to all the students’ needs. We’ve also addressed the issue of school uniforms; guidelines have been provided to schools, and the decision should be a collective one”—not a unilateral one—but one that takes both parents and students into account, she concluded.
The total number of students expected to attend general secondary schools during the 2026–2027 school year is 41,280 (23,270 in junior high schools, 17,710 in senior high schools, and 300 in evening schools), according to data in the possession of CNA.
The number of schools that will be in operation during the 2026–2027 school year is 108, comprising 62 junior high schools, 36 high schools, 10 six-year schools, and 5 evening schools.
For the 2026–2027 school year, the total number of teachers in General Secondary Education is estimated at 7,200.
In Secondary Technical and Vocational Education and Training, there are 890 teachers, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools will also be in operation—specifically, 11 Technical and Vocational Education and Training Schools (TVETS), 5 Combined Schools (High Schools and TESEK) in Polis Chrysochous, Emba, Omodos, Agro, and Solea, 6 Evening Technical Schools for Vocational Education (ESTEE) in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Famagusta, Paphos, and Polis Chrysochous; MTEEK programs at the Prison School; and MTEEK programs at Special Schools.
The Vocational Education and Training Apprenticeship System (SMEEK) will also operate in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, and Paphos, offering Preparatory Apprenticeships as part of the core framework of the Vocational Education and Training Apprenticeship System.
The student population of the TESEK centers totals 5,150 students.
Source: KYPE
