Education and schools in Cyprus are split into a free state system and fee-paying private and international schools. State schools teach in Greek, while the private and international ones mostly teach in English.
Public and private schools are both open to expat families, and most parents weigh up fees, the language of instruction, the curriculum, and how long they plan to stay.
State schools in Cyprus are generally considered adequate, but their quality is inconsistent enough that expats often call the system hit or miss. There are good state schools around, and because they are free, lots of expat families take them seriously.
Public schools in Cyprus
Many expat families choose public schools in Cyprus because they are free, although lessons are taught in Greek. Families who plan to stay long term often want their children immersed in Cypriot culture, and a state school is the obvious way in. State schooling is free, and expat children pay no fees.
For expat parents, the language is the main drawback of state schooling. Younger children usually pick up Greek quickly, but older kids, and often their parents, find it harder to keep up in class and follow day-to-day conversation.
Schools teach English as a second language from the first grade, and pupils take up further languages in the middle and secondary years. Most state schools also offer extra Greek lessons for children who arrive without the language, so newcomers aren't thrown in at the deep end.
The system is split into primary and secondary schools. Secondary is then divided into the gymnasium for the lower years and the lyceum for the upper years. At the upper-secondary level, students pick either an academic lyceum or a technical and vocational school. A year of pre-primary is now compulsory before primary school, and children must stay in school until they turn 15.
Useful links
Private schools in Cyprus
Private schools in Cyprus are concentrated in the four biggest cities, Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, and Paphos. Standards are uneven, so check each school's curriculum and reputation before you commit. Most teach in English, and the stronger schools have solid teaching and good facilities.
Fees can be steep. In addition to tuition, parents should budget for registration and enrolment fees, books, uniforms, lunches, and the school bus.
International schools in Cyprus
English-speaking expat families usually go for international schools in Cyprus. The big draw is that your children are surrounded by others who speak their language and know first-hand what it is like to be a third-culture kid. These schools also tend to offer a wider range of extracurricular activities.
Most follow the British curriculum, so pupils sit IGCSEs and A-Levels. American programmes are common too, and several schools offer the International Baccalaureate. A few schools also teach the Cypriot Apolytirion, so families who want to keep local universities within reach have that option. International schooling is pricey, so if you can, have school fees included in your relocation package.
Special educational needs in Cyprus
Children with special educational needs in Cyprus are taught, wherever possible, in mainstream schools. The aim is for them to sit in mainstream classes and follow the same curriculum as their peers. Schools then adapt lessons and add support where a child needs it.
Educators and special-needs specialists first assess the child to gauge how much support is needed. They then develop an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and implement it.
A child who needs more help may get part-time or full-time teaching in a separate unit inside a mainstream school, where classes are small. If that is not the right fit, there are dedicated special schools. Only a small share of children go down that route, though; most stay in mainstream classrooms.
Useful links
- Cyprus Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth: Special Education
- European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education: Cyprus
Homeschooling in Cyprus
Homeschooling in Cyprus is not a realistic option for most families. General home education is not allowed, and the authorities grant exceptions only in narrow cases, such as a child who cannot attend an ordinary school because of special needs or a serious health condition. Even then, parents need approval from the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, and a Ministry-approved teacher must deliver the national curriculum. For nearly all expat families, homeschooling is off the table, so the real decision is between state and private schools.
Tutors in Cyprus
For new arrivals, tutors in Cyprus can be a real help, especially if your children have to adjust to a new curriculum or a new language.
Private tuition is a big part of Cypriot education. Local families rely on it heavily, and afternoon tutoring centres, or frontistiria, are common, especially in the run-up to exams. Expat parents with older children often bring in tutors for exam preparation.
The Cypriot leaving certificate, the Apolytirion, is not always enough on its own for university entry in the UK or the US. Students who want to study in those countries often need extra qualifications, such as A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate, a foundation year, or an admissions test like the SAT.