![](\"http:\/\/ch.jfdi.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/pre-school-misunderstandings-will-be-ironed-out-says-minister-video-updated.jpg\")
Education Minister Athena Michaelidou on Tuesday acknowledged \u201cmisunderstandings\u201d with the private preschools association (Sipek) after representatives of the latter protested the state\u2019s handing of the expansion of early childhood education outside parliament.<\/p>\n
Members of Sipek expressed concerns about potential negative impacts on private preschools and kindergartens and the sustainability of these institutions, including the employment of their personnel.Speaking after a House education committee meeting on early years education, Michaelidou said that \u201cany misunderstandings that exist are now being resolved.\u201d<\/strong>She said the discussion made it apparent that their requests mainly concern the programme already being implemented.Last year, Sipek charged that the law has caused a great deal of confusion to thousands of parents whose children attend private schools, kindergartens and infant care centres.A law under current debate means compulsory preschool will start for children aged four years<\/strong>, rather than the current four years and eight months. This change would be implemented over the coming three school years.The demands of the private preschool owners concern the manner in which the state has determined to extend compulsory schooling for children from four-years-old and up, and fears they would lose their right to independent decision-making and autonomy.\u201cI want to remind that we [the current administration] did not initiate the debate,\u201d Michaelidou said.\u201cSipek raised issues around consultation and the right to earlier information. The current administration, however, found this specific programme ready, and, due to the timelines set by the European Commission, we need to implement it because it is part of Cyprus\u2019 obligation in the Recovery and Resilience Plan.\u201dShe urged that discussions in parliament be wrapped up as soon as possible so the programme can be implemented by the education ministry. She said the private kindergartens were a key partner.When asked if parents will be able to choose where their child will attend pre-school, and if attendance at private kindergartens will be subsidised regardless of socio-economic criteria, the minister replied: \u201cIf it is at the compulsory education level, yes.\u201dAsked about the cost of the programme, Michaelidou said that it features a budget of around \u20ac130 million in total for a nine-year period, instead of the initially planned two or three.\u201cWe need a longer period so that public finances can withstand it, and so that we, as the education ministry can control the situation with our facilities and capacities.\u201dFollow the Education Minister Athena Michaelidou acknowledged misunderstandings with the private preschools association (Sipek) regarding the state’s handling of early childhood education expansion. Sipek members protested potential negative impacts on private preschools and kindergartens, including employment concerns. Michaelidou stated misunderstandings are being resolved and discussed requests concerning the ongoing program. A law under debate proposes compulsory preschool starting at age four, to be implemented over three school years. Sipek’s concerns include loss of autonomy and decision-making. The law is part of Cyprus’ obligation in the Recovery and Resilience Plan. Michaelidou emphasized the importance of finalizing parliamentary discussions for timely program implementation, highlighting private kindergartens as key partners. Parents will have the choice of pre-school attendance, including subsidized attendance at private kindergartens. The program has a budget of approximately \u20ac130 million over nine years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3334,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[862,132,603,3,955,405,950,27,121,250,956,463,519,433,133],"class_list":["post-3333","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cyprus","tag-age","tag-athena-michaelidou","tag-autonomy","tag-cyprus","tag-early-childhood-education","tag-education","tag-education-minister","tag-employment","tag-featured","tag-google","tag-private-preschools","tag-protest","tag-recovery-and-resilience-plan","tag-school","tag-schools"],"acf":{"keyphrase":"","keywords":"","sourceimg":"","country-category":""},"yoast_head":"\n
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