Government Agencies in Cyprus

In Cyprus, the Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for the administration of education, the enforcement of educational laws and the provision of educational facilities to pupils and students of the primary, secondary, higher and tertiary education levels. It is also responsible for the supervision and standardisation of services provided by the private sector up to higher education.

Other government agencies with education portfolios include the Cyprus Council for the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications which evaluates academic qualifications from Cypriot and overseas education institutions, granting them recognition or equivalent status in line with government regulations; and the Quality Assurance Agency, established to promote quality assurance in both public and private institutions in line with EU regulations.

Public spending on education was 7.9% of GDP in 2009.

Public kindergartens are entirely financed by the state. The government pays the salaries of the teachers and assistants, and meets educational materials and running expenses, and the costs of construction and maintenance of school buildings. Children aged 4 years and 8 months to 5 years and 8 months attend public kindergartens free of charge; younger children must pay small fees.

The state provides education and training for children with special needs, starting at the age of three and continuing until the completion of the education and training process. There are only nine special primary schools in the country; the Ministry’s policy is to include children with special needs in mainstream schools.