6.10 Current debates and reforms
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Forthcoming policy developments
Continuation of the National Youth Strategy 2017-2022
The drafting of the new Strategy 2030 is expected to be finalised within 2025. Since the previous Strategy 2017-2022 has been completed, an evaluation process was undertaken with the aim to identify possible areas of further improvement as well as challenges and targets which were not met. Based on the evaluation outcomes, the participatory approach among relevant stakeholders in the form of public (on-site and online) consultations and focus groups as well as the outcomes of the 5th National Youth Conference which were organised during 2024, the new strategy 2030 is being designed to meet the current need and challenges of young people in the island.
New bill for inclusive education in Cyprus
The Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth is involved in a consultation process with its departments/directorates as well as other external bodies and representatives with the aim to upgrade the current legislative framework, procedures and practices of Special Education so as to become more inclusive and offer qualitative learning opportunities to all students in Cyprus. The initiative is funded by the European Union through the Structural Reform Support Programme. Some topics being discussed include changing how special assistants (“σχολικοί βοηθοί”) are hired and assigned. The aim is to update their duties, qualifications, and the hiring process so they better match the needs of children with special needs in Special Education.
Ongoing debates
The major current debates that are taking place in the public sphere regarding the topics of this specific chapter, concern the development of the new National Youth Strategy 2030the development of youth work in Cyprus as well as the reform regarding the Special Education in Cyprus.The Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth (MESY) currently undertakes the second phase of upgrading the curricula of all school subjects/disciplines across all educational levels, from pre-primary to upper-secondary general and vocational education. In addition, MESY has submitted a new proposal on the evaluation mechanisms for teachers across all educational levels. This has sparked a widespread public dialogue, with significant reactions from teachers' unions, as the reform directly impacts how teachers' work is assessed, who will be responsible for their evaluation, the criteria used, their professional development, and their career progression.