The education ministry has started providing materials to schools to improve Greek language learning for students for whom it is a second language, it announced on Wednesday.

The materials, which include tablets, headphones, a “smart wall” and flash cards, among other curricular aids, is designed to meet the needs of children who are multi or bilingual in integrated classes, as well as those in separate Greek language intensive classes.

The materials will be first delivered to 15 primary schools which will make use of it on a pilot basis pilot basis, before it is officially introduced in all public primary schools.

According to the announcement, materials designed to improve school-parent communication is also in the works, in the form of translated study guides and basic information about the subjects taught. They include an orientation package about school rules and routines, expectations for breaktimes and the classroom, and information about Cyprus.

The induction of these materials into schools will improve the transition of children who are third country nationals into the public school system, the ministry said.

Training in second language acquisition is also to be provided to teachers, based on issues highlighted via an assessment carried out at schools across the island.

The project is co-financed by the state and the European Union (at 75 per cent) from the asylum, migration and integration fund.