We remain committed to the evolution of the education provided, said the President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades, who addressed the event of the Pancyprian Association of Teachers and Kindergarten Teachers Vanguard on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of its foundation. The event took place at the premises of the POPED, in Nicosia, on Thursday.
My presence is a practical proof of the respect and appreciation, both of myself personally and of the entire State, towards you and all your colleagues who serve with dedication the Education of our country, the President of the Republic noted.
Referring to the Government's policy on Education, President Anastasiades said that the Government has proceeded with the reorganization of the Ministry of Education itself, where radical changes have been made in order to promote modern, sound administration and the creation of individual structures that allow the effective implementation of its mission.
In addition, he continued, for the first time since the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, a number of other changes were achieved for the benefit of students and teaching staff.
The main reforms, he said, are the abolition of the outdated system of appointments in education and its replacement with examinations, the continuous modernisation of the content of education through the new curricula and timetables and the implementation of the Unified Pupil Assessment Plan covering pre-primary education up to Grade 3.
At the same time, regarding the evaluation of educational work and teachers, the dialogue on the comprehensive proposal submitted by the Ministry to all stakeholders has already begun, President Anastasiades pointed out.He also referred to the implementation of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Programme in Primary Education and the introduction of French as a compulsory subject in grades 5 and 6 in the Unified Comprehensive Primary Schools.
Furthermore, the President of the Republic included among the reforms the teaching of Digital Technologies as a separate teaching unit in the subject "Design and Technology - Digital Technologies" with new curricula, the operation of summer schools in Primary Education, the extension of the co-funded programme DPA.S.E. (School and Social Inclusion Actions) to enhance access, smooth and effective integration and participation of all children of school and pre-school age in the education system, as well as the reform and modernization of existing legislation and practices in Special Education and Education.
The Government's aim, President Anastasiades indicated, is to create modern innovative building and technical facilities in a way that enriches pedagogical practices.
In this context, he said, in the last decade, 23 new school buildings with a total value of more than 100 million euros, 250 extensions, seismic upgrades, general improvements and renovations were completed, as well as more than 800 smaller-scale projects with a total value of more than 120 million euros, while infrastructure projects with an estimated value of more than 80 million euros are currently being implemented.
It is in this direction, the further development of the education provided at all levels, that we remain committed, the President of the Republic stressed, adding that the future planning adopted in the National Plan "Cyprus - Tomorrow" for the pillar of education, includes specific policy objectives and investment actions amounting to more than 100 million euros.
This programming, he explained, includes the decision to extend free compulsory pre-school education from the age of 3 years and 8 months and to cover tuition fees for children aged 3 years to 4 years and 8 months attending public kindergartens. In the same category, he continued, belongs the digital transformation of all classes in schools, the cultivation of e-skills in teachers and students and addressing the skills mismatch between secondary and higher education and the labour market.
In the effort to modernise our education system, we invest in you, the teachers, as important partners in the effort we are making, said the President of the Republic, who expressed his absolute certainty that through d CNA
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