Nicosia: The total number of pupils and students across all educational levels during the 2023/2024 school year reached 218,129. This marks a 4.7% increase compared to the 2022/2023 school year, which recorded a total of 208,374 pupils and students. The Statistical Service provided this data on Tuesday based on results from the Annual Survey on Education.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the total number of educational institutions in 2023/2024 rose to 1,368, up from 1,351 in the previous year. The number of teachers also increased, reaching 17,298 in 2023/2024-a 5.0% rise from 16,475 teachers in the 2022/2023 school year.
During the 2023/2024 school year, the Service reported that 778 kindergartens and day nurseries were operational in preschool and pre-primary education, accommodating 38,931 children. This reflects a 4.2% increase from the 2022/2023 school year, which had 764 kindergartens and nurseries with 37,344 children. In primary education, 361 schools operated with 60,079 pupils, reflecting a 3.3% increase compared to the previous year, which had 358 schools with 58,168 pupils.
Secondary education in 2023/2024 saw 61,230 students enrolled across 170 schools, a 2.2% increase from the prior year's 59,926 students in 171 schools. For Higher Education, 59 educational institutions enrolled a total of 57,889 students, marking a 9.4% increase compared to the 2022/2023 academic year, which had 58 educational institutions with 52,936 students.
Additionally, 11 Special Schools operated in 2023/2024 with 575 pupils and 213 teachers, compared to the previous year, which saw the same number of schools with 551 pupils and 211 teachers.
The Service also highlighted financial statistics, noting that public expenditure on all educational levels for the 2023 financial year amounted to £1,599.2 million. This accounted for 12.1% of the Government Budget and 4.9% of the Gross Domestic Product. In 2022, the figures were £1,445.9 million, 12.9% of the Government Budget, and 4.9% of the Gross Domestic Product.
For 2023, current public expenditure per student for public education was broken down as follows: £6,413 for preschool and pre-primary education, £8,975 for primary education, £13,232 for General Secondary Education, £15,692 for Technical Secondary Education, and £15,084 for Tertiary Education. The corresponding figures for 2022 were £5,770 for preschool and pre-primary education, £8,082 for primary education, £12,026 for General Secondary Education, £14,361 for Technical Secondary Education, and £13,591 for Tertiary Education.