Procedures through which services are provided to citizens/businesses
Private Education: General Education, legal framework
The private education sector covers the same education levels as the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth. Private nursery schools, private primary schools and private secondary schools must comply with the Law on Private Schools of 2019.
Permission must be granted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth and approved by the Private Education Advisory Committee in order to open and run a private (primary or secondary) school in the Republic of Cyprus,
Both private individuals and legal entities who are nationals of/registered in Cyprus or another EU Member State can apply for a licence to run a private school in Cyprus. Persons who are not citizens of the Republic of Cyprus or another Member State may open a private school, subject to the requirements of the aforesaid law, but must obtain a special licence from the Ministry and fulfil certain formalities and conditions.
In order to apply for a licence to open and run a private school, you must:
choose a name and register it with the Registrar of Companies and Official Receiver;
present certificates of compliance for the buildings and fixtures;
provide details and certificates of the qualifications of the teaching staff;
define the type and level of education provided by the school and provide certification of the school curriculum and lessons and text books;
issue a student handbook;
provide any other information stipulated by the competent authority and notified in the Government Gazette of the Republic of Cyprus.
There are 171 private nursery schools, 28 private primary schools and 38 private secondary schools in Cyprus, which are categorised as one of three types:
schools of the same type as State schools, i.e. private schools which adhere strictly to the curriculum and timetable of the same type of State school;
schools of similar type to State schools, i.e. private schools which include in their curriculum, in terms of lesson time and content, at least two-thirds of the main subjects of the same type of State school;
schools of different type to State schools, i.e. private schools in neither of the above categories which apply the education system of another country.
