Innovative programmes being introduced at Pancyprian Gymnasium

The historic Pancyprian Gymnasium is slated for upgrades and will see the introduction of innovative pilot programmes, Education Minister Prodromos Prodromou said.

The minister presented cabinet decisions about changes to the schools in the historic centre of Nicosia.

The Pancyprian Gymnasium, which now operates as an upper secondary school (lyceum) will be transformed into a six-grade high school from September and will also start hosting lower secondary school pupils.

Pilot innovative educational programmes will be introduced at the school, which, in the future could be introduced in other schools, he said.

One of the innovations is increasing teaching hours for French in upper secondary schools and technical schools so that pupils, upon graduation from high school will have good knowledge of two foreign languages (in Cyprus it is French and English) as per EU guidelines. This will be first implemented at the Pancyprian Gymnasium in September while the rest of the schools will follow in two years, the minister said.

The second innovation concerning Pancyprian will be the introduction of an interdisciplinary STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) curriculum.

A third, “important programme” that will be introduced at the same school, will be the pilot operation of an all-day high school. “It will be the first all-day high school that will include enhanced teaching of the Greek language and culture, while it will include student care with psychological and social support services,” Prodromou said.

In addition, he said, the development of a digital school transformation programme will begin by strengthening the 21st century digital skills framework as defined by the EU Commission and in line with the proposals under the EU Recovery Plan.

A centre of classical studies and Greek letters that will operate in the afternoons, in cooperation with Severios Library will also be established at the school, he said. Pupils from other schools will be able to benefit from this centre as well.

He also said that Pancyprian will operate as a school without an educational district in a way that students from any area can go there.

Prodromou also said that a multipurpose hall will be built at the school.

The minister also said that the facilities of the historic centre’s primary schools – Eugeniou and Antonias Theodotou, Eleneio and Agios Kassianos – would be upgraded to be able to receive pupils from the Phaneromeni school that will close in the near future since a university department will move in the building.

According to Prodromou, the Ayios Antonios public kindergarten will operate as an all-day facility as well as one primary school either that of Ayios Antonios or Eleneio. It was also decided to reduce the maximum number of students in these primary schools from 25 to 20 per classroom to enhance learning.

Cabinet also decided to offer emergency financial support to diaspora schools in the UK.