Nearly €12 million in projects before the start of the new school year, says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – What it says about air conditioners in schools and staffing
This year will definitely be better than the last, “because we are implementing our goals, we are implementing the policies we have announced”, the Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Athina Michailidou, pointed out, in an interview with KYPE, in view of the new school year 2024-2025. p>
He said that before the start of the new school season 2024-2025, school infrastructure projects were implemented or will be completed very soon with a total cost of €11,860,913.93.In addition to these, and during the new school year 2024-2025, the implementation of another 25 projects with a total expenditure of over €140 million euros will continue or begin, he said.
“We want everyone's cooperation, to be by our side, because the results are already evident. We proceed to the modern school methodically, step by step, evaluate our results and proceed on the basis of informed decisions”, he added.
In her interview with KYPE, the Minister of Education refers to the numbers of the new school year by grade, and emphasizes, at the same time, that they are as ready as possible for the new year.
There will always be some challenges.
When asked if we are ready in terms of infrastructure, staffing, books, air conditioners, syllabuses a few days before the start of the new school year, the Minister of Education said that there will always be some challenges.
“We are as ready as possible. A few days before the start, the books and educational materials are ready. For our infrastructure, we have already publicly announced where we will have projects, where we will have building improvements and extensions, and where they are being built. We are erecting new buildings, we are investing in infrastructure, so we do not consider the existence of construction sites in schools as something negative. It is a positive thing, given that the safety of children and teachers is taken very seriously. This year especially, the amount that will be allocated to infrastructure of school buildings has increased significantly, which exceeds €140m“, he added.
Regarding the staffing, Mrs. Michailidou said that the issue of staffing is at a very advanced stage.
“The final acts are now in the hands of the Education Service Committee. But whatever happens will not affect the smooth start of the school year”, he noted.
As for air conditioners, continued the Minister, it is a political decision which has received.
“The procedure has already been decided. With the change in the School Boards, the process is implemented with the new members of the School Boards. By the end of September in almost all provinces we will have a large number of schools in which there will be air conditioners and by the end of October the first 50 schools will definitely have air conditioners installed. At the same time, from now on, in September, we are starting the second phase, i.e. the next 50 schools, with the same process. This is very important. We took the time so that the whole process is done correctly, that is, the installation is accompanied by electromechanical studies, that there is safety and that the instructions of the General Accounting Office of the Republic are followed”, he added.
Consequently, said Mrs. Michailidou, “there is no reason to worry about exactly when we will have them or how”.
“It is a process that will take time, less than 3 years we believe, but all schools will eventually have air conditioners. It is important to mention that, apart from air conditioners, we also follow and adopt more environmental measures, such as roof insulation. Half of our schools already have roof insulation and we are moving forward with the rest. Ceiling fan installations, greenery in schools, there is planning for that too. Therefore, we believe that the use of air conditioners should be limited to the two or three months a year that is needed,” he added.
He stated, at the same time, that “in the schools, both the Ministry of Health and we, the Safety and Health Committee of the Ministry, will give instructions for the use of air conditioners, so that the doors and windows are also opened, there should be a combination, in order to let's not cause more problems than those that already exist due to the high temperatures”.
Regarding the Analytical Programs, the Minister of Education said that “Working groups worked last year. These groups included teachers, inspectors, university and trade union representatives. This project has been prepared, which is essentially about updating. They are not new syllabuses. It is an improvement of our analytical programs. Less material, focus on skills, abilities. They have already been posted for Secondary and Primary Education, and it is important to say that it is a first phase, because through the Recovery and Resilience Plan, the second phase for the analytical is about enriching them with digital skills/skills and the third phase in connecting them with the needs of the labor market”, he noted.
On 6/9 the first bell rings in Secondary Education, 9/9 in Primary, 2/9 teachers return to schools
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Responding to a related question, the Minister of Education said that the new school year 2024-2025 begins for teachers of all grades on Monday, September 2, while on Friday, September 6, for all Middle School students of Education, and on Monday, September 9, the first ringing of the bell is expected for all children of public Primary, Kindergarten and Special Schools.
Primary Education
During the new school year, the Minister said, 329 Primary schools will operate. The number of students is 51,590 and the number of teachers is 5,044.
He also stated that 274 Kindergartens will operate. The number of students amounts to 13,117 and kindergarten teachers to 1,033.
For Special Education, continued the Minister, 9 special schools and 145 special units will operate.
In Rizokarpasos Primary School, Mrs. Michaelidou said, 18 students will study, while in Rizokarpasos Kindergarten 11 children.
Average General Education
The Minister of Education, regarding Secondary General Education, said that during the new school year 2024-2025, a total of 108 public Secondary General Education schools will operate, of which 62 middle schools, 36 high schools and 10 six-form schools with full secondary and high school cycles, including Rizokarpasos High School.
He also stated that 5 Evening High Schools-High Schools will operate, while in each province there will be 1 Music High School and 1 Music High School, as well as 1 Sports High School and 1 Sports High School.
“It is expected that during the new school year a total of 42,650 students will study, of which 24,989 will study in the high school cycle and 17,661 in the high school cycle. 18 students are expected to attend the six-grade Gymnasium-Lyceum of Rizokarpasos. For this year, the total number of Secondary General Education teachers expected to serve will reach 7,031”, he added.
Secondary Technical and Vocational Education and Training (MTEEK)
Regarding Secondary Technical and Vocational Education and Training (MTEEK), the Minister of Education said that the number of instructors is 667, while the number of students enrolled in morning classes is 4,929 and 588 in Evening classes, but the registrations continue.
Mrs. Michailidou mentioned that this year the following MTEK schools will operate: 11 Technical and Vocational Schools of Education and Training (TESEK), 5 High Schools and TESEK (Poli Chrysochous, Empa, Omodos, Agros and Solea), 6 Evening Technical Schools of Vocational Education ( Nicosia, Limassol, Paphos, Larnaca, Famagusta and Polis Chrysochous), TVET Programs at the Prison School, TVET Programs at Special Schools.
Operation of Mixed Schools
The Minister also said that after the successful operation of the Lyceum and TESEK of Polis Chrysochous and the Hotel Department of the Apeiteios Gymnasium of Agros, in the school year 2019-2020 two more mixed schools operated: the Lyceum and TESEK of Agios Charalambous Empas and the Omodos School – Middle School, High School, Technical and Vocational Education, while from the 2022-2023 school year there is another mixed school, in Solea, where the branch of Agriculture is offered.
Extension of Evening Schools of Technical and Vocational Education (ESTEE)
He noted that the expansion of the ESTEE institution throughout Cyprus has been completed, with the establishment of three new Evening Schools.
“After the ESTEEs of Nicosia and Limassol, in the 2019-2020 School Year, three new ESTEEs operated in Larnaca, Paphos and the free province of Famagusta. From the 2022-2023 school year, as a branch of ESTEE Paphos, ESTEE also operates in Polis Chrysochous, where the branches of Electrical Engineering and Hospitality are offered”, he added.
MTEEK Branches and Specialties
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During the 2023-2024 school year, the Minister of Education said, the following Departments will operate at MTEK: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Electronic Applications, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Structural Projects and Constructions, Applied Arts, Agriculture, Services, Operation and Management of Hospitality Units , Hotel and Catering Professions, Industrial Design, Maritime and Maritime Professions, Aesthetics – Hairdressing, Viticulture – Winemaking.
Vocational Education and Training Apprenticeship System (VET)
< p>He said, at the same time, that the Central Body of SMEEK operates in the following TESECs: 1st TESEK Nicosia, 1st TESEK Limassol, 2nd TESEK Limassol, 3rd TESEK Limassol, TESEK Agios Lazaros, Larnaca, TESEK Paphos.
Post-secondary Vocational Education and Training Institutes (MIEK)
Regarding MIEKs, the Minister said that they operate in all provinces and offer the following Fields of Study: Bakery – Pastry, Electrical Installations and Automation, Organic Horticulture, Dairy – Cheese, Supply Chain Management and Maritime Studies, Computer and Communication Networks , Construction Project Manager, Culinary Arts, Automotive Engineering, Culinary Arts, Industrial Technician, CNC Design and Technology – Woodworking Industry, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Installations.
AITE Operation
He also mentioned that in 2023 the AITE, the new MIEK building in Limassol, will start operating.
“Until now, MIEKs were housed only in Technical Schools, as a result of which they could only be offered in the afternoon, after the end of TESEK classes. With the operation of AITE, there is now the possibility to offer the study programs in the morning as well”, he added.
Building infrastructure and maintenance of public schools
Answering a question, the Minister of Education said that the Directorate of Technical Services, as part of its responsibilities, implements the building planning of the Ministry of Education and Proceeds to carry out all the necessary work, with the aim of the orderly and safe operation of the schools.
“Building planning includes construction projects, seismic expansions and energy upgrades, maintenance and improvements of school buildings,” he said.
Especially, before the start of the new school year 2024-2025, were implemented or school infrastructure projects with a total cost of €11,860,913.93 will be completed very soon. In addition to the above and during the new school year 2024-2025, the implementation of another 25 projects with a total expenditure of more than €140 million will continue or begin,” he concluded.
