Procedures through which services are provided to citizens/businesses
Primary Education: General information, goals, registrations
The purpose of primary education is to organise, ensure and provide learning opportunities for all children, regardless of age, gender, family and social background or mental capacity.
The goal of primary education is to develop balanced individuals. The primary school curriculum is based on three pillars, which work together to achieve that goal. The first pillar covers a coherent and adequate body of knowledge and skills which children are expected to acquire in each cognitive subject. The second pillar focuses on the principles, attitudes and behaviour which children should develop as modern, democratic citizens. The third pillar cultivates the characteristics, abilities and key skills expected of and for a modern [word missing] so that children are able to take responsibility and an active part in modern social and cultural life.
Beneficiaries
Attendance at primary school is compulsory for all children of all nationalities living in Cyprus, regardless of whether they are in Cyprus legally or illegally. Attendance is free for all children attending public primary schools.
Children are registered in grade 1 of Primary School if they complete the age of 6 year old, before September 1st of the year during which they will attend school. Attendance at Primary School is compulsory, starting in grade 1 and ending in grade 6 (6 years’ attendance).
Registrations/transfers
Pupils’ enrolments in primary schools are carried out in January, either online and/or in person, through a process determined by the competent authority and on dates specified by the Director of Primary Education every year.
Children who cannot be registered at that time for proven reasons may be exempted from that requirement by decision of the Chief Education Officer. Each pupil is registered the primary school in their educational region.
For children who have been born in Cyprus and enrol for the first time an official birth certificate is required. For children who have been born abroad, the Alien Registration Certificate (ARC) is required or other official document issued by the child’s country of birth.
Parents who wish to transfer their child to a school outside their educational region must apply to the District Education Officer during the registration period in January. New registrations/transfers due to relocation are recorded by the head teacher of the school to which the child is to be transferred, once evidence of the parents’ relocation has been submitted. Transfers for other reasons or due to relocation which cause problems in terms of class sizes or other problems at the school are accepted only if approved by the local District Education Office. In those cases, the procedure for submitting a transfer application to the local District Education Officer must be followed.
The schools and the pupils’ parents are notified of approved/rejected transfers by the end of January. Schools and pupils’ parents who applied for registration/transfer in time or who lodged an objection are notified of approved/rejected registrations/transfers before registration is confirmed usually in April. The confirmation of enrolments is done, either online and/or in person, through a process determined by the competent authority and on dates specified by the Director of Primary Education every year.
