Cyprus to proceed towards digital public schools

The Cypriot Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth on Tuesday signed a €20 million contract for the provision of digital support services, paving the way for the transition towards digital public schools.

The contract was signed in a ceremony at the Presidential Palace, with President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades stating that this is one of the largest and most important digitisation projects.

The project is funded by both national sources and by the European Regional Development Fund and aims to allow access to various school administrative services and information to both pupils, teachers, parents and guardians through a personal computer of a smart device.

“Our aim is to create a modern European State which would provide quality services to it citizens and which will respond immediately and with flexibility to the citizens’ needs” Anastasiades said, noting that for this reason his government has established the Deputy Ministry of Innovation, Research and Development and Digital Policy.

He noted that the transition of education in the new era of advanced technologies with the introduction of advanced tools of administrative support, will improve the operation, management and effectiveness of the school units.

On his part, Prodromos Prodromou, Minister of Education, Sport and Youth described this project as “one of the greatest reforms in education, one which would drastically transform the relation of all with the schools, according to the planning and the digital transformation strategy of Nicos Anastasiades’ administration.”

Prodromou added that the project’s first results will be delivered by July 2023 and is estimated to conclude by March 2025.

“By investing to digital technology, we create the schools of tomorrow, we create a modern and technologically advanced school that would be accessible and friendly to its users and the community,” he added.

Furthermore, Anastasiades said that the future plans over digital education include policies and investments amounting to €100 million financed by the national Recovery and Resilience Plan.

He noted that a large project promoted by the Ministry is the creation 6,600 digital school classes expected to be delivered within the next school year, noting that a tender has been launched.

The President also referred to the creation of an All-day high school focusing on positive sciences and innovative applications, recalling that the pilot project focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).

He also referred to the upgrading of the Post-Secondary Institutes of Vocational Education and Training (MIEEK) with the operation of a new building in Limassol that would function of the headquarters of MIEEK.

On his part Prodromou said the digital school classes “will transform education and will provide new education capabilities in the classroom.”