The Council of Ministers approved the proposal of the education minister to introduce technical gymnasiums or middle schools in the education system on Wednesday.

Technical high schools or lyceums are already widespread, but technical schools for younger pupils aged 12 to 15 could help improve the attractiveness of technical and vocational training, Education Minister Athena Michaelidou stated following the cabinet meeting.

Before the cabinet meeting, President Nikos Christodoulides announced the launch of two pilot technical gymnasiums in Nicosia and Limassol to “link education more directly with the labour market”.

Michaelidou highlighted that Cyprus had one of the lowest participation rates of high school graduates in technical and vocational education in Europe. She added that linking education to the labour market will be one of Cyprus’ biggest challenges in the coming years.

The pilot introduction of the institution will be implemented in two gymnasiums in Nicosia and Limassol during the 2025-26 school year. The curriculum will include subjects where there is a mismatch in the labour market, such as mechanical sciences, design, art and tourism studies, with the possibility of adjusting the directions according to demand.

The teaching methodology will be hands-on in specially equipped laboratories. The pilot will be evaluated, with the participation of all those involved, so that the expansion can be documented, Michaelidou explained.

The new schools were designed to provide students with technical skills aligned with current industry needs. Modelled after the sports and music gymnasium, the schools aim to better equip young Cypriots for careers in corresponding fields, Christodoulides said.

“The establishment of these schools is a step forward in ensuring that our education system provides students with practical skills that are relevant to the modern workforce,” Christodoulides stated. He added that the government aimed to expand the programme to other regions in the future.