Our View: The education system has thoroughly failed abuse victims
A gymnasium student who was sexually abused by fellow students was still expected to go to the same school as his abusers, a month and a half after the incident.
education system
Who Pays Taxes in America in 2024
– America’s tax system is just barely progressive, with room for improvement to combat economic, wealth, and racial inequality.
– The share of all taxes paid by the rich slightly exceeds the share of total income they receive.
– The share of all taxes paid by the poor is slightly less than the share of income received by the poor.
– The tax system would appear less progressive if it included unrealized capital gains.
– Federal tax system is relatively progressive, while state and local taxes are mostly regressive.
– Federal personal income tax, corporate income tax, and estate tax are considered progressive.
– Payroll tax, including Social Security tax, is not particularly progressive.
– Tax laws enacted over the past 25 years have made the tax system less progressive.
– Some politicians claim the tax system is too progressive, but data shows it is not as progressive as claimed.
– President Biden has proposed tax reforms to raise trillions in new revenue.
– The IRS has documented that hundreds of billions of federal taxes owed each year go unpaid due to underreporting of income.
Having high hopes for our youth
The text discusses the disappointment in a sector of the younger generation, highlighting issues such as high crime rates, low education standards, and lack of English language proficiency. However, there is hope seen in the younger generation through their volunteer work with Syrian refugees and efforts to revitalize an abandoned shopping mall project in Limassol. The young group aims to turn the mall into a youth business and innovation hub with the support of the Municipality of Limassol, but they require governmental and possibly EU assistance to overcome legal and financial challenges.
Biden Is Right: Corporate Tax Avoidance Has Big Problems That We Can Fix
Fact: In the first five years of the Trump tax law, 109 profitable corporations paid no tax in at least one year, and 23 paid no tax over the entire five-year span despite being profitable each year.
Tatar: Israel not our enemy
Fact: Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar stated that Israel “is not our enemy” and that the country has become a brand destination in education and tourism.
Former north , ‘minister’ denies taking bribes
Ziya Ozturkler denied allegations of taking bribes from a university in relation to the ongoing “fake diploma scandal.”
Cultivating a modern, inclusive education system
– The education minister, Dr. Athena Michaelidou, aims to make schools more inclusive and wants public universities to offer courses in English.
– Michaelidou has prioritized modernizing and making both public and private schools contemporary and inclusive since her appointment nearly a year ago.
– Amendments to legislation are being considered to improve the operation of private schools and strengthen their control mechanisms.
– Consultations are ongoing for regulations on the admission of final-year private school students to public universities and for providing textbooks and participation in competitions and teacher training programs for private schools.
– Michaelidou has addressed the introduction of undergraduate programs in English at Cyprus’ public universities, which currently offer postgraduate programs in English.
– Regulations need to be approved by the House of Representatives for the University of Cyprus and Cyprus University of Technology to offer undergraduate programs in foreign languages.
– The interior ministry has submitted draft regulations for this purpose, which were discussed but not approved by the education committee.
– Michaelidou’s office is working on implementing changes for the new school year, including updating educational material, improving special education towards inclusivity, promoting digital skills, and upgrading technical and vocational education.
– A National Graduate Tracking Mechanism and an Employers’ Skills Survey are being implemented as part of the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Plan to address the disparity between skills provided to pupils and labor market demands.
– The ministry plans to expand free pre-primary education to children aged four years and older, starting from the academic school year 2024-2025, as part of the National Recovery and Resiliency Plan.
Shifting focus in higher education
The number of EU students enrolling in British universities has significantly decreased by more than half since the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union in 2016, with notable declines from Italy, Germany, and France. This trend is also observed in Cyprus, where students are now considering universities in other countries. British passport holders and children of British passport holders residing in the EU can still apply for UK universities and receive home fees until January 1, 2028. Before Brexit, EU students paid just over £9,000 in home fees and had access to student finance, but now, with no loans available, tuition fees can rise to £38,000. Despite the increase in tuition fees, some UK universities still offer home fees or scholarships to reduce costs. Students from Cyprus are exploring universities in various countries, including the Netherlands, France, Ireland, Greece, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Canada, the USA, and Australia. There is also a noticeable increase in students applying to local private universities in Cyprus due to the variety of courses, scholarship opportunities, flexible entry requirements, and easy application processes. Students are increasingly pursuing courses that offer immediate employment opportunities, with a growing interest in fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, risk management, data analysis, art and design, real estate, business, economics/finance/accounting, law, medicine, engineering, psychology, and physiotherapy.
North rules out amnesty for fake diplomas
Nazim Cavusoglu, the ‘education minister’ of the north, announced on Tuesday that there will be no amnesty for individuals who obtained fake diplomas without using them. He emphasized that his ministry does not support those who have committed wrongdoings and is against making any concessions in this matter. Both the government and opposition agree on the need to eliminate dishonest practices in the higher education sector. The ministry is also considering transferring fake diplomas to the police for forgery prosecutions. Opposition party CTP MP Sila Usar Incirli criticized the higher education accreditation authority (Yodak) for its inability to effectively oversee higher education and stressed the urgency of addressing the issues within the north’s higher education system, highlighting their significant impact on the country.
Michaelidou outlines priorities for next school year
Education Minister Athena Michaelidou outlined her priorities for the next school year, aiming to create an education system that forms skilled, responsible citizens with a democratic ethos, historical identity, and respect for diversity. The ministry’s priority is transitioning to a modern, human-centered, and inclusive school to improve learning outcomes. Policies are divided into six pillars: educational policies, human resources, administrative structures and infrastructure, higher and lifelong education, sports, and youth. A new assessment system abolishing midterm examinations in all subjects in secondary education was implemented. The government plans to enhance higher education through internationalization, modernization, and labor market connections, increase scholarships, and has announced a €10 million fund for purchasing modern equipment, including 10,000 computers and 1,000 video projectors. Measures to address pupil behavior and attainment issues are being adopted, with free and compulsory education from the age of four to be introduced. Eight international memoranda of understanding have been signed, a pilot German language program in middle and high schools, and an action plan for Cypriot sports development, focusing on school sports and infrastructure upgrading, have been announced.