Secondary General Education
Secondary General Education, Public and Private, covers a huge sector of the Cyprus Educational System. Based on the socioeconomic, cultural and national needs of Cyprus, Public Secondary General Education offers equal opportunities for education and aims at promoting knowledge focusing on general education and gradual specialization. Thus, it prepares pupils for their academic and professional pursuits. It also aims at the promotion and development of healthy, spiritual and moral personalities, as well as the creation of competent, democratic and law abiding citizens. Furthermore, it pursues the strengthening of national identity, cultural values and universal ideals for freedom, justice, peace and the fostering of love and respect among people with a view at promoting mutual understanding and cooperation among people. All of these, within the framework of the new multicultural conditions existing both in Cyprus and worldwide during the 21st century.Public Secondary General Education is offered to pupils between the ages of 12 - 18, through two three-year cycles of study - the Gymnasium and the Lyceum. The curriculum includes common core subjects, such as Modern Greek and Mathematics and Optional Subjects. Some subjects are interdisciplinary such as Health Education and Environmental Studies. Moreover, there are various extracurricular activities, such as clubs, excursions and field trips, in order to attain a more comprehensive and balanced development of the pupils’ personality. Education is compulsory up to the age of 15 and free of charge for both cycles.
The Directory of Secondary General Education has a wide range of responsibilities in areas such as supervising and evaluating the activities within public schools, supervising the activities of private schools and institutes, the State Institutes for Further Education, Counseling and Career Guidance Services, monitoring the implementation of school regulations, inspection of teaching staff, educational planning and school staffing, offering further education to pupils and adults and providing information about education to the general public.
More information can be found at the website of the Department of Secondary General Education.
