The education ministry’s proposed budget for 2025 amounts to €1.55 billion, reflecting a 6 per cent increase from 2024.
Presenting the budget to the House finance committee on Friday, Education Minister Athena Michaelidou highlighted the emphasis will be placed on modernising the education system with an increased focus on prevention, timely diagnosis, and the pedagogical role of schools.
“The ministry aims to optimise human resources for improved outcomes, with priorities also directed at infrastructure and inclusion,” she said.
According to Michaelidou, key areas receiving increased funding include special education, grants to school boards, pre-primary education, digital transformation, school security, and university grants.
She described the budget as “a step toward establishing a modern, human-centred, inclusive school,” with the goal to enhance students’ skills and knowledge for greater effectiveness in education.
The 2025 budget focuses on ongoing and upcoming initiatives, including reforms in higher education, national strategies for lifelong learning, and quality assurance.
Special attention is also placed on technical and vocational education, e-governance in educational administration, and athletic programmes.
In sports, priorities include support for young athletes and the “Sports for All” programme, while youth initiatives aim to encourage civic participation and reform the Youth Board of Cyprus.
Regarding special education, Michaelidou indicated that legislative changes for inclusion are planned for completion in 2025, ensuring that all children can be accommodated within mainstream classrooms. Plans also include progressing digital literacy skills within school curricula and aligning them with labour market needs.
Several MPs commented on the budget, acknowledging the proposed increases but also outlining areas for improvement.
Committee chair and Diko MP Pavlos Mylonas called the budget an “important effort to enhance educational quality”, while also urging the inclusion of elements that promote spirituality and ethics in education.
Disy MP Giorgos Karoullas stressed the importance of fiscal restraint and efficient resource management, especially concerning payroll expenses.
Karoullas also urged the ministry to provide clear timelines for the implementation of new special education legislation and to address ongoing issues with the teaching staff evaluation system, noting the need for development in rural areas such as the Famagusta district.
Akel MP Christos Christofides acknowledged recent educational advancements, such as the expansion of preschool education and the abolition of midterm exams, but cautioned that issues like tertiary education and curriculum content need urgent attention. He pointed out concerns over the appointment system, underlining “significant discrepancies” in exam pass rates across specialties.
Christofides further argued that educational facilities remain a critical concern, particularly in fast-growing areas where school infrastructure has not kept pace with demand. He also called for comprehensive proposals to address inclusive education, highlighting that current measures often fail to adequately support children with disabilities.
Andreas Apostolou of Edek praised the minister’s efforts to drive reforms, including pre-primary expansion and full-day school upgrades. He then underlined the importance of supporting children with disabilities in mainstream education, highlighting the 2025 goal to further improve inclusive education.
Lastly, Dipa MP Alekos Tryfonides remarked on the collaborative approach taken by the minister and her team, noting that their objectives align with his party’s vision for a “student-centred, inclusive, and safe” educational environment.
