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- Ελληνικά
Brussels, 13 and 14 May 2024
The Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Dr Athena Michaelidou, will participate in the work of the Education, Youth and Sports Council of the European Union (EU), which will take place on 13 and 14 May 2024, in Brussels.
In the context of the Council's work on youth issues, the Ministers discussed the results of the EU Youth Conference held in Ghent on 2 - 5 March 2024. On the basis of the proposals formulated by the young people, Dr Michaelidou referred to policies that Cyprus is already implementing, such as organised student representation, support for the mental health of students through the work of the Educational Psychology Service, and the implementation of programmes for the smooth integration of students with a migrant biography, as well as for combating all forms of discrimination. He also referred to the initiatives for the cultivation of financial literacy among primary and secondary school children.
He also made special reference to the implementation of the National Year of Youth 2024, as proof of the state's active interest in the younger generation. As the Minister of Education noted, "taking into account the legacy of the European Year of Youth 2022 and the relevant Commission report, the actions of the Year aim to promote the active participation of young people in decision-making processes, to promote inclusion and equal opportunities, to enhance the skills of young people to facilitate their integration into society and the labour market, to create opportunities for entrepreneurship, as well as to strengthen the mental health of young people."
The Council of Education and Youth of the Republic of Cyprus has adopted a resolution on the implementation of the European Year of Youth 2022, which aims to promote the active participation of young people in decision-making processes, to promote inclusion and equal opportunities, to strengthen young people's skills in order to facilitate their integration into society and the labour market, to create opportunities for entrepreneurship, as well as to strengthen young people's mental health. Dr Michaelidou, stating first that Cyprus is not facing a shortage of teachers, informed about the policies implemented in the Cypriot education system that act as a lever to attract and retain teachers in the profession. Among other things, he mentioned the satisfactory remuneration of teachers compared to other countries, which reflects the high demands and responsibilities of teachers, the promotion system, the investment in teachers' professional careers, as well as in their professional development.
The Ministers also discussed Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. The Education Minister stressed that Cyprus' efforts are focused on cultivating skills, introducing AI tools into teaching practice and teaching the basic principles of AI. "The modernisation of curricula," she said, "aims to promote critical thinking, integration of digital skills, problem solving, creativity and adaptability, so that students use AI effectively, responsibly and critically." Underlining the value of exchanging good practices, she stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation with educational organisations, universities, research centres and centres of excellence, with the main aim of developing new educational tools and teaching methods. He also referred to the risks of marginalisation of teachers and the emphasis to be placed on equal opportunities in the use of ICT, the protection of personal data and the ethical use of ICT in educational environments.
The Council will conclude tomorrow with the Meeting of Sports Ministers, during which a discussion on the role of volunteering in the sports sector is, inter alia, scheduled.
(B]PIO[/B]
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