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It gives me great pleasure to address today the 24th Pancyprian Students' Conference organized by the Pancyprian Coordinating Committee of Secondary General and Secondary Technical and Vocational Education and Training. Representing the President of the Republic, allow me, first of all, to convey his satisfaction for the organization of this Conference, since, through similar actions, the multiple potentials of our young people and their desire to participate in the effort for an educational system that can cultivate creative and critically thinking individuals with a free and fighting spirit are highlighted.
An education system through which citizens with skills, responsibility, a democratic ethos, a historical identity and respect for diversity will be formed, citizens who can face the challenges of the future and contribute creatively to the development of society. This is precisely our vision at the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth. To realise this vision, we have set as a priority, on the basis of the Governance Programme, the transition to a modern, people-centred and inclusive school, which will cultivate competences, skills and knowledge, with the ultimate aim of substantially improving learning outcomes.
Of course, the policies we adopt will only be effective if we "inoculate" them with the ideas, positions and opinions of their direct beneficiaries, who are not only our students themselves but also their teachers. We also take seriously the positions of organised parents, which express the common views of all parents and guardians who care, struggle and fight for their children.
The component of the views of secondary school students is expressed by the Pancyprian Coordinating Committee of Students, the PSCM, whose action we recognize as very important and, therefore, we support in all possible ways. Our cooperation with the PESM and consultation with it on all serious issues that concern our education system is a key pillar for the planning and implementation of our policies. During my first year in office as Minister, I have held several meetings with the PESM and have listened carefully to the views of its members, making appropriate adjustments to our policies and actions where necessary.
Listening precisely to the positions of all our partners/collaborators and the society at large, we have already proceeded, during the first year of governance, in the promotion/implementation of important policies and actions concerning Secondary General and Secondary Technical and Vocational Education and Training. Among others, we have proceeded with.
- To promote the modernisation and updating of the syllabus by setting up 43 Working Groups and focusing on essential material, with content that promotes skills, competences, critical thinking and creativity.
- The extension of the institution of all-day schooling in Secondary General Education with three new schools of Interdisciplinary-Disciplinary Learning.
- The upgrading of Secondary Technical and Vocational Education and Training, by implementing several new programmes and linking them to the labour market.
- To launching the process of transition from Special to Integrated Education, by codifying the positions of all those involved, as well as measures already being implemented, such as updating the educational material for immediate use by teachers, increasing the number of school assistants/assistants and improving the ways in which they are used.
- To accelerate the digital transformation of the education system, by using a €10 million budget for the purchase of modern equipment and digital skills training, as well as by completing the drafting of a policy document on digital education.
- To take measures for prevention, early diagnosis and intervention in violence/violence and literacy issues, by establishing a series of pedagogical measures for all levels of education.
- To take measures for prevention, early diagnosis and intervention in violence/violence and literacy issues, by establishing a series of pedagogical measures for all levels of education.
- Strengthening life education programmes with an emphasis on civic education and values such as empathy, mutual respect and respect for diversity, with training for pupils and teachers, with the implementation of sex education at all levels, with actions to promote the safe use of the Internet and with the extension of counselling and vocational education.
- Improving infrastructure with extensions/upgrades/improvements worth around €44 million.
- In the development of actions on issues that concern young people in our country, with the designation of 2024 as the National Year of Youth, the creation of the first digital democracy platform for direct communication between young people and the State and the implementation of the Action Plan "Modern Professional Development for the Green and Digital Transition".
Of course, our objectives and policies do not stop here. The road to a modern, learner-centred and inclusive school is long and everyone's contribution is needed. We will continue to discuss and consult with everyone so that we can successfully navigate this difficult path. We will pay particular attention to the full implementation of the new student assessment system, the modernization of the content of all courses, the further increase and upgrading of all-day schools, the further increase and quality improvement of programmes in Technical Schools, the completion of the changes for the transition from Special to Integrated Education, the integration of digital skills in the Curricula, the design of a new National Strategy on Violence and Delinquency and the further improvement of the curricula of all schools. Especially on the issue of violence and delinquency, very soon we will make announcements together with the PESM.
Dear children,
As I have recently stated, from next September the school is gradually changing. While much still needs to be done to address the chronic issues in our education system, the school is already becoming more student-centered, more inclusive, safer, and more focused on the needs of you and your teachers, with an emphasis on prevention and early intervention. The modern school we seek will be skills/competence and core knowledge oriented, with actions and policies based on research and pedagogical science. In a modern, digital environment, with greater pedagogical autonomy and improved infrastructure, we will realize our vision of shaping active and critical thinking citizens who can face modern challenges and lead our country to liberation, reunification, progress and development. Towards this end, we not only seek but also need your contribution. We recognize you as valuable partners and seek your experiences, knowledge, opinions and ideas, as well as your constructive criticism, so that we can realize our important goals.
With these thoughts, I declare the opening of the 24th Pancyprian Student Conference of the PACE and wish you every success in its work. As the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth and as the State, we will look forward with interest to the findings and resolutions of the Conference.
IP
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Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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