There is a large number of migrant students in Cyprus in elementary and high schools and beginning of next academic year each school unit will set its goals and priorities to assist these students, Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou said Thursday.
Speaking at a press conference the Minister said that the Cyprus government welcomes migrant students and has set priorities in order to integrate them into the Cyprus society, adding that one of the basic prerequisites was to learn the Greek language and be informed on the social and cultural situation of the island.
Prodromou said that data show that in 2021-2022 there were 8,144 students in elementary schools whose mother tongue was not Greek from a total of 9,616 migrant students in Cyprus.
In gymnasiums there were a total of 29.168 migrants students the last year, 7,7% are from EU countries and 7,2% from third countries.
He said that 11,7% of these students did not speak Greek. In Lyceums there were 2.650 migrant students (15,1%) of whom 11,1% did not have Greek as their mother tongue.
The Minister said that the goal was not for them to just learn Greek but to participate and engage throughout the school year.
In elementary schools a total of 4,490 hours will be allocated to all students who participate in special programs for a smooth integration, the Minister said, adding that there was room for improvement.
He added that in the next year tangible goals have been set and the programs for these students will be assessed on a constant basis.
Source: Cyprus News Agency