Cyprus: Report: Part II: Analytical Section: cont. 1

The EFA 2000 Assessment: Country Reports
Cyprus

Table 8

PRIMARY EDUCATION

SCHOOLS, PUPILS AND TEACHERS BY DISTRICT, 1996/97

PUBLIC			PRIVATE			TOTAL				District
Schools	pupils	Teachers		pupils	Teachers		Schools	pupils	Teachers
137 71 66	23.689 16.584 7.105	1.502,3 1.021,3 481	12 11 1	1.249 1.054 195	111 92 19		149 82 67	24.938 17.638 7.300	1.613 1.113 500		Nicosia Urban Rural
16 0 16	3.644 0 3.644	233 0 233	0 0 0	0 0 0	0 0 0		16 0 16	3.644 0 3.644	233 0 233		Famagusta Urban Rural
66 25 41	11.318 6.662 4.656	721 402 319	1 1 0	139 139 0	7 7 0		67 26 41	11.457 6.801 4.656	728 409 319		Larnaca Urban Rural
89 47 42	17.514 14.113 3.401	1.057,3 809,3 248	9 9 0	1.257 1.257 0	105 105 0		98 56 42	18.771 15.370 3.401	1.162 914 248		Limassol Urban Rural
45 18 27	5.881 4.216 1.665	416 283 133	1 1 0	70 70 0	7 7 0		46 19 27	5.951 4.286 1.665	423 290 133		Paphos Urban Rural
353 161 192	62.046 41.575 20.471	3.929 2.515 1.414	23 22 1	2.715 2.520 195	230 211 19		376 183 193	64.761 44.095 20.666	4.159 2.726 1.433		TOTAL Urban Rural

Table 9

SCHOOLS AND PUPILS BY CYCLE AND DISTRICT, 1996/97

1^st Cycle		2^nd Cycle		Both Cycles		TOTAL		District
Schools	Pupils	Schools	Pupils	Schools	Pupils	Schools	Pupils
22 22 0	4.567 4.567 0	22 22 0	4.614 4.614 0	105 93 12	15.757 14.508 1.249	149 137 12	24.938 23.689 1.249	Nicosia Public Private
0 0 0	0 0 0	0 0 0	0 0 0	16 16 0	3.644 3.644 0	16 16 0	3.644 3.644 0	Famagusta Public Private
6 6 0	1.527 1.527 0	6 6 0	1.573 1.573 0	55 54 1	8.357 8.218 139	67 66 1	11.457 11.318 139	Larnaca Public Private
13 13 0	3.524 3.524 0	13 13 0	3.468 3.468 0	72 63 9	11.779 10.522 1.257	98 89 9	18.771 17.514 1.257	Limassol Public Private
1 1 0	190 190 0	1 1 0	181 181 0	44 43 1	5.580 5.510 70	46 45 1	5.951 5.881 70	Paphos Public Private
42 42 0	9.808 9.808 0	42 42 0	9.836 9.836 0	292 269 23	45.117 42.402 2.715	376 353 23	64.761 62.046 2.715	TOTAL Public Private

Table 10

PUPILS AND TEACHERS BY DISTRIXT-URPBAN OR RURAL AND PUPILS PER TEACHER, 1996/97

PUBLIC			PRIVATE				TOTAL				District
Pupils	Teachers	Pupils Teachers	Pupils	Teachers		Pupils Teachers	Pupils		Teachers	Pupils Teachers	District
23.689 16.584 7.105	1.502 1.021 481	15.8 16.2 14.8	1.249 1.064 195	111 93 18	11.3 11.3 10.8		24.938 17.638 7.300	1.613 1.114 499		15.5 15.8 14.6	Nicosia Urban Rural
3.644 0 3.644	233 0 233	15.6 0.0 15.6	0 0 0	0 0 0	0.0 0.0 0.0		3.644 0 3.644	233 0 233		15.6 0.0 15.6	Famagusta Urban Rural
11.318 6.662 4.656	721 402 319	15.7 16.6 14.6	139 139 0	7 7 0	19.9 19.9 0.0		11.457 6.801 4.656	728 409 319		15.7 16.6 14.6	Larnaca Urban Rural
17.514 14.113 3.401	1.067 809 248	16.6 17.4 13.7	1.257 1.257 0	105 105 0	12.0 12.0 0.0		18.771 15.370 3.401	1.162 914 248		16.2 16.8 13.7	Limassol Urban Rural
5.881 4.216 1.665	416 283 133	14.1 14.9 12.5	70 70 0	7 7 0	10.0 10.0 0.0		5.951 4.286 1.665	423 290 133		14.1 14.8 12.5	Paphos Urban Rural Private
62.046 41.575 20.471	3.929 2.515 1.414	15.8 16.5 14.5	2.715 2.520 195	230 212 18	11.8 11.9 10.8		64.761 44.095 20.666	4.159 2.727 1.432		15.6 16.2 14.4	TOTAL Urban Rural

At this point it is important to note that the age of entrance in the first grade of the Primary School has changed. The issue was dealt with by the Ministry of Education and Culture in consultation with representatives of the

Teachers’ Trade Union in an effort to harmonise legislation with that of the European Union. Following a research study carried out by the Educational Psychology Department on the learning maturity and readiness of the children, the Cyprus Council of Ministers decided the gradual change of the age of entrance in Primary School from 5 years and six months to six years (Council of Ministers Minutes No 46.201, dated 1.7.1997). Thus, for the school year 1998-99 children were admitted in primary school at the age of five years and eight months.

As far as school accommodation requirements are concerned, a five year programme (1996-2000) was implemented for the construction of new school buildings for the new housing projects in towns and municipalities and the needs of the population due to their move from rural to urban areas. In addition, it is intended to promote the division of overcrowded schools into smaller units the founding of regional schools and the replacement of old buildings. Upon completion of this programme, the needs of Primary Education concerning accommodation are expected to be minimal.

Nonetheless, as shown in Table 11 the number of schools has decreased since 1990.

Table 11

NUMBER OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1990-91 TO 1996-97

School year	Number of Primary Schools
1990-91 Public Private	383 362 22
1991-92 Public Private	390 367 23
1992-93 Public Private	391 367 24
1993-94 Public Private	381 360 21
1994-95 Public Private	383 361 22
1995-96 Public Private	381 359 22
1996-97 Public Private	376 353 23

However, as indicated in Table 12, this change could be attributed to the movement of the population from rural to urban areas.

Table 12

ABSOLUTE NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS IN PRIMARY EDUCATION IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1990-91 TO 1996-97

School year	Number of students in Urban areas	Number of students in Rural areas	Total number of students	% Percentage of students in Urban areas	% Percentage of students in Rural areas	% Total
1990-91	41688	21274	62962	66,2	33,8	100
1991-92	42010	21444	63454	66,2	33,8	100
1992-93	43157	21156	64313	67,1	32,9	100
1993-94	43720	21187	64907	67,6	32,6	100
1994-95	43885	20999	64884	67,4	32,4	100
1995-96	43849	20811	64660	67,8	32,2	100
1996-97	44095	20666	64761	68,1	31,9	100

On the other hand, it should be noted that the number of rooms by main use and district has been increasing since 1990. This change is illustrated in tables

Table 13

ROOMS BY MAIN USE DISTRICT, 1990/91

District	Ordinary classrooms	Laboratories	Special rooms	Offices	Other rooms	Total
I. PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Nicosia Urban Rural	940 615 325	64 45 19	71 54 17	194 113 81	365 242 123	1,634 1,069 565
Famagusta Urban Rural	129 0 129	14 0 14	5 0 5	24 0 24	62 0 62	234 0 234
Larnaca Urban Rural	403 212 191	41 21 20	30 19 11	94 44 50	170 74 96	738 370 368
Limassol Urban Rural	646 453 193	47 29 18	46 28 18	128 71 51	255 155 100	1,122 742 380
Paphos Urban Rural	245 142 103	19 11 8	22 13 9	65 33 32	101 45 56	452 244 208
Total Urban Rural	2,363 1,422 941	185 106 79	174 114 60	505 267 238	953 516 437	4,180 2,425 1,755
Of which rented	18	4	0	0	2	24