Ministry of Education

Cyprus supports effort to boost girls, ’ participation in STEM

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Cyprus supports effort to boost girls, ’ participation in STEM

The Empowering Girls in STEM Project (EGI-STEM) conference took place from February 27 to 29 in Nitra, Slovakia, focusing on increasing girls’ participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs. The event was announced by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport, and Youth and marked the culmination of the EGI-STEM program, led by the Cypriot ministry with Slovakia as a key participant. The conference aimed to showcase educational materials and activities developed under the EGI-STEM program and served as a platform for teacher training in STEM, emphasizing the encouragement of girls in these fields. The program manager and a professor from the University of Vienna addressed the importance of enhancing STEM programs and overcoming stereotypes to improve female representation in STEM. The conference included sample lessons, a MathCityMap treasure hunt with STEM activities, and concluded with a satisfaction survey and discussion on STEM programs.

CySEC joins global forces in promoting financial literacy

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CySEC joins global forces in promoting financial literacy

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) announced its participation in the Global Money Week (GMW2024), organized by the OECD, taking place from March 18 to 24, 2024, under the theme “Protect your money, secure your future.” This marks CySEC’s third consecutive year of involvement in the campaign, which aims to promote financial literacy among the youth. The campaign will see participation from over 176 countries. CySEC’s initiatives include a university lecture at the European University of Cyprus, informational presentations at schools, collaboration with the Central Bank of Cyprus, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Finance to distribute educational materials in schools, and the publication of a new Investor’s Guide on online investments alongside an online campaign.

Limassol, ’s Frederick University to host 2024 Youth Tech Fest

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Limassol, ’s Frederick University to host 2024 Youth Tech Fest

Frederick University is co-organizing the second Youth Tech Fest Cyprus 2024, which will occur on April 20, 2024, from 9 am to 4:30 pm at the University’s Limassol campus. The festival aims to promote digital literacy and engage children and young people in ESTEAM fields (Entrepreneurship, Science, Technology, Art, and Mathematics) through a variety of activities, workshops, masterclasses, and shows in areas such as Robotics, Gaming, Woodworking, XR/VR, and science. The event includes a Girls Go Circular workshop for schoolgirls aged 14-19, focusing on digital skills and the circular economy, organized by Junior Achievement Cyprus and Frederick University. The festival also features a Youth Tech Summit for educational technology insights and best practices, an Open Competition for student projects, and an Award Ceremony. Admission to all festival activities is free.

The Heritage Private School

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The Heritage Private School

The Heritage Private School and Institute is located along the Limassol to Troodos road in Cyprus, offering views of the mountains and sea. It serves over 1,500 students aged 2 to 19 from diverse cultural backgrounds. The school is approved by the Cyprus Ministry of Education and is academically selective, aiming to provide a high-quality education comparable to reputable UK private schools. Instruction is in English, following the Cambridge International Primary Programme and the National Curriculum for England. Students can earn qualifications such as Cambridge International Checkpoints, IGCSEs, A Levels, and a formal School Leaving Certificate (Apolytirion) at the end of Year 13. The Heritage is a Cambridge International Fellowship Centre and a center for Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel International Examinations, as well as ICDL. Most students advance to universities in the UK, Europe, the USA, and other parts of the world, including prestigious institutions like the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, MIT, Berklee College of Music, Johns Hopkins University, and Sciences Po.

The school incorporates technology into the curriculum, including an iPad 1-1 program, and collaborates with Engino® in the Early Years and Primary School to integrate STEM principles and develop robotics and computer programming skills. Outdoor learning is emphasized, especially in the School Forest. The Secondary School offers a Gifted and Talented Programme for identifying and nurturing gifted students.

The school’s ethos focuses on academic excellence, personal and social development, respect, collaboration, and self-discipline. It has a well-qualified staff, a School Counsellor, and a Special Education Needs Coordinator to support student mental health and learning. Over 100 after-school clubs and academic Institute classes are available, along with sports teams, drama and music classes, a school choir, and an orchestra. The school participates in various EU educational and community projects, Model United Nations Conferences, and offers the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Scheme.

The Heritage Private School holds the British Council International School Award (ISA) since 2008, is the only APSnet UNESCO certified private school in Cyprus, and one of two PASCH accredited schools in the country. It has received 11 Cyprus Education Leaders Awards, eleven CY GPP environmental awards, and several Cambridge International and Pearson Edexcel Outstanding Learner Awards. The Executive Head was a member of the Cambridge International Education Advisory Board.

Foreign investors want more info on energy, relocation

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Foreign investors want more info on energy, relocation

Foreign investors active in Cyprus attended a “Foreign Investors Dialogue with the Government” event where they were informed about actions being implemented or planned by the government. The government aims to make Cyprus an attractive destination for living, working, and doing business. Some of the actions mentioned include new housing policies, the possibility of submitting electronic applications for renewable energy projects, the implementation of the Strategic Investments Law, and improvements in the education system for children of foreign workers. The government has also introduced measures to improve the business environment, support innovation and entrepreneurship, and streamline licensing procedures. The Company Facilitation Unit has registered almost 2,000 foreign companies since its establishment. The government is also addressing housing affordability and delays in the naturalization process. The labor market is being made more accessible for third country nationals studying in Cyprus.

Register for special education children

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Register for special education children

The Ministry of Education is preparing a registry for children with special education needs, where all the necessary documents and evidence will be stored. This will eliminate the need for parents and guardians to submit the same documents every year when applying for support. The Ministry aims to address the issue of changing escorts for children, which currently requires changing schools and submitting multiple forms. They also aim to record the needs of these children in a timely manner to avoid problems with escorts in the new school year. The Ministry is working towards creating a registry to streamline the application process and ensure faster decision-making by the relevant committees. Additionally, efforts are being made to provide differentiated educational materials for children with special needs in mainstream classrooms.

Public PV projects boost RES contribution

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Public PV projects boost RES contribution

The Ministry of Education and the Electricity Authority of Cyprus collaborated on a project to install photovoltaic solar panels on school buildings. This project resulted in a 30% reduction in energy consumption for 405 schools. The project also included thermal and moisture insulation. The total cost of the project was €6.6 million, lower than the initial budget of €9.6 million. The project was funded by the European Union as part of the island’s Recovery and Resilience Plan. The EAC’s first solar park in Akrotiri is also operational, generating electricity and reducing energy costs. The solar farm is expected to save €2.8 million and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 14,000 tons per year.