1. Cypriot parents school
2. Cypriot consumers association
3. Part-time Institutes
4. Folk University
5. Private Vocational High schools.

The most important programme in Cyprus for Non-Formal Education is the Adult Education Centres of the Ministry of Educational and Culture.

The Adult Education centres operate throughout Cyprus, in every urban and rural area, practically offering programs leading to literacy and Greek language foundation for the whole population of the island.

Channeled through the following programs are some of the opportunities provided to adults:

1. Strengthening of the mother tongue among children of primary and secondary school (returning immigrants, foreign language speakers, immigrants’ children, etc.)
2. Learning of the Greek Language, mathematics and social awareness and activation of any illiterate adults.
3. Greek language Learning programs to those contracting marriages with Greek Cypriots.
4. Greek language Learning programs to those living and working in Cyprus.
5. Functional Literacy Programs leading to the improvement and effective use of the Greek language.
6. Basic education programs covering the Greek language, a second language (preferably the English language) acquisition of essential skills and technology e.g. computer science.

The Adult Education centres furthermore aim on developing in a multi-faceted way the personality of each single adult, the enrichment of one’s knowledge, the development of individual skills, the economic prosperity, the cultural inactivation, and last but not least, the progress and development of the community and society, in general.

For research and comparison reasons, the following statistical data tables 2 and 3 are hereby sited analyzing the sex, subject and district in the adult education programs for the years 1990-91 and 1996-97.

The various programs of the Adult Education centres have been widely

embraced by the majority of the public, reaching thus, 15,537 individuals during the school year 1990-91. This figure increased, during the school year of 1996-97, to 17,424 individuals, the latter being shown in the relevant tables provided below.

Table 2

ENROLMENTS BY SEX SUBJECT AND DISTRICT IN ADULT EDUCATION, 1990-91

1. Including data for Famagusta

Table 3

The statistical tables 2 and 3 of the current research shows the subject index offered by the Adult education Centres during the school years of 1990-91 and 1996-97 as well as the number and the sex of individuals attending the various programs per district. Comparing the data, we notice that:

1. Subjects like dressmaking, traditional dances, car mechanics, electrical installation, photography and literacy are being attended by a less amount of people. In lieu of research that justifies those downfalls, one may attribute the reason for this fact to the lack of equipment at the laboratories engaged in instruction, the lack of trained personnel, the low wages of the instructors when compared to similar positions in the government and shifting interest on behalf of the participants.
2. Quite contrary, subjects like foreign language instruction, interior design, handicraft, painting, flower arrangement, intro to computer science, gardening, pottery-making, and first aid attract more people every year. This indicates clearly the shift in people’s needs and interests.
3. The subject index of the afore mentioned tables covers the following sectors.

The rapid development noted in every aspect of human life has created the need for a constant communication between people. The learning of a foreign language becomes imperative for social, economic and cultural reasons.

Due to the tremendous tourist development here in Cyprus and the continuous promotion of the political problem of the island, learning a foreign language has become a necessity.

Instruction in the following languages is available:

Turkish, English French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish and Arabic.

Instruction in either one of those language is centered on verbal communication and, secondly, on the written expression targeting on making the individuals become more effective in their everyday life.

The preservation of cultural civilization amalgamated with the strengthening of a cultural identity are some of the factors which are considered necessary for keeping alive the memories of the pre-turkish invasion era, and the strengthening of the moral of the population in Cyprus.

Through the attendance of the following programs, an individual develops personal hobbies and becomes involved in mental and cultural activities. Individuals manage to become actively engaged in their free time. Some of the programmes offered are as follows:

Painting, music choir-ensemble, art appreciation, photography, flower arrangement-ikebana, interior design, icon-painting, Byzantine music, Cypriot and Greek folk traditional dances, Greek and foreign literature, woodcarving, modern dancing, airplane-modeling, introduction to the archaeology and sightseeing of Cyprus, pottery-making, theatre and drama, Greek and European civilization and cinema.

Courses oriented toward this direction aim on developing essential skills enabling, thus, individuals to create, repair or even preserve appliances which are closely related to their daily life activities without having to consult a specialist technician, even.

The acquisition of essential skills and dexterities fills every individual with joy and personal satisfaction, minimizes family and personal expenditure, prevent accidents within the domestic area and fills an individual’s spare time creatively and pleasantly.

The courses offered are:

Basic masonry-construction principles, carpentry, car repair, book-binding, repairmen of electronic appliances, electrical installations, plumbing, soldering/welding, flamemaking, handicraft, bronzework, vitro decorating, dress-making, cooking-confectionery, doll-making, silversmithing, typewriting etc.

Health constitutes a vital prerequisite for the prosperity of people. Most diseases of the late 20^th century are quite simply the result of bad habits: improper nutrition and inability to deal with emergency situations.

The application of proper rules of hygiene, nutrition, aesthetics, prevention of emergency cases contributes to a better standard of living among individuals.

Some of the topics offered are as follows:

Preventive medicine, first aid, physical health, physical education, introduction to psychology and mental health, social problems, aesthetics, drug education and parents schools.

The ongoing increase in vital needs and the knowledge boom being closely and interchangeably associated to the rapid technological advancement constitute an impulsive as well as a pressing factor for the search of new knowledge and skills for modern man. When equipped with these skills, the individual will be most certainly capable of functioning and operating in a smooth and satisfactory way in today’s world as well as in the future.

The acquisition and enhancement of vocational skills enables individuals to face the increasing economic needs and improve their individual and family position in work and life.

Subjects offered are as follows:

Accounting, Economics, Sales techniques, Marketing, Computer science and oenology.

The development of environmental awareness contributes to the protection and preservation of the environment, reducing significantly the problems and hazards our lives face on this planet.

Some of the courses offered through the Adult Education centres have a duration of 1-3 years. They are currently being offered in 23-25 meetings, ninety minutes each providing their participants with certificates of attendance.