DEPARTMENT OF SECONDARY TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
Procedures through which services are provided to citizens/businesses
Secondary Technical and Vocational Education: General Information, Goals, registrations
General information
Secondary technical and vocational education (STVE) is provided to students aged 15 to 18 in a 3 year cycle. There are two pathways, theoretical and practical, which provide a balanced course of general education and technological/practical specialisation to prepare students for immediate employment in industry or further education in a higher education institution on leaving school. A secondary technical and vocational education also provides students with the opportunity to develop personal knowledge, skills and aptitudes, communication and learning skills, professionalism and the attitudes and values needed for their successful employment and seamless integration into society.
The secondary technical and vocational education leaving certificate is equal and equivalent to a higher secondary school leaving certificate and equates to National Qualifications Framework (NQF/EQF) level 4.
Secondary technical and vocational education is provided in twelve (12) schools, in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paralimni, Avgorou, Paphos and Poly Chysochous, and there are study branches in Emba, Agro and Omodos.
Theoretical pathway:
Students who choose the theoretical pathway are placed in work experience in industry for four (4) weeks a year in Year 1 and Year 2.
Prospects for school leavers
Aside from ensuring rounded development, the course provides school leavers with the knowledge base they need:
for seamless professional and social integration;
to apply to a higher or tertiary education institution in Cyprus or abroad;
for lifelong learning and training that will enable them to respond to present and future economic and social needs in Cyprus and Europe.
Further education: school leavers can:
apply for a place at a State higher or tertiary education institution in Cyprus or Greece by passing general or special examinations;
apply for a place at a private higher or tertiary education institution in Cyprus or abroad.
General knowledge, aptitude and skills
These are acquired in general education lessons, combined with the student’s interaction with the course and the school environment.
Once they have completed the theoretical pathway course, school leavers have acquired the knowledge, aptitude and skills needed to:
sit tertiary education entrance examinations in Cyprus and Greece in the relevant compulsory subjects;
understand and use the Greek language;
understand and use one of the main European languages;
use a computer as a learning tool in their specialist subject and in their day-to-day life;
source written information offline and online and evaluate, organise, interpret, process and handle it;
understand basic economics;
exercise free, independent and critical thinking;
develop a national conscience free of fanaticism, racism and xenophobia;
participate effectively in team work;
act in an environmentally friendly way;
exercise proper and responsible consumer conduct;
make proper and rational use of time, financial resources, materials and the equipment of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Schools.
Practical pathway:
Students who choose the practical pathway are placed in work experience in industry for eight (8) weeks a year in Year 1 and Year 2.
Students on hotel and catering courses are placed in work experience in hotels for three (3) weeks in June, July and August at the end of Year 1. In Year 2, they are placed in work experience for eighteen (18) consecutive weeks between the first week of May and the first week of September. This means that work experience accounts for 25 % of their school year.
Prospects for school leavers
Aside from ensuring rounded development, the course provides school leavers with the knowledge base they need:
for seamless professional and social integration;
to apply to a higher or tertiary education institution in Cyprus or abroad;
for lifelong learning and training that will enable them to respond to present and future economic and social needs in Cyprus and Europe.
Further education
School leavers can:
apply for a place at a State higher or tertiary education institution in Cyprus or Greece by passing general or special examinations;
apply for a place at a private higher or tertiary education institution in Cyprus or abroad.
General knowledge, aptitude and skills
These are acquired in general education lessons, combined with the student’s interaction with the course and the school environment.
Once they have completed the practical pathway course, school leavers have acquired the knowledge, aptitude and skills needed to:
sit tertiary education entrance examinations in Cyprus and Greece in the relevant compulsory subjects;
understand and use the Greek language;
understand and use one of the main European languages;
use a computer as a learning tool in their specialist subject and in their day-to-day life;
source written information offline and online and evaluate, organise, interpret, process and handle it;
understand basic economics;
exercise free, independent and critical thinking;
develop a national conscience free of fanaticism, racism and xenophobia;
participate effectively in team work;
act in an environmentally friendly way;
exercise proper and responsible consumer conduct;
make proper and rational use of time, financial resources, materials and the equipment of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Schools;
take a positive attitude to the world of work, industry and production.
