Section 6.2 concerns teaching and learning issues. Three subsections are distinguished. The first one
relates to the curriculum organization, subjects offered and numbers of hours allowed to each subject.
The second one focuses on the specialization of studies and the third one on teaching methods and
materials used.

Cyprus maintains a centralized, standardized secondary education system. Teachers have professional autonomy in pedagogy, but not in determining curriculum structure or content. The system prioritizes consistency across schools rather than teacher driven curricular design.
The new regulations on secondary education have been implemented since September 1, 2017.
These regulations are the product of collective work of all stakeholders, service technocrats from the directorate of secondary general education, the directorate of secondary technical and vocational education and the services of vocational and counseling education and educational psychology, the educational organizations OELMEK and OLTEK, the association of directors of OELMEK, the organized parents (pancyprian confederation of federations of parents of secondary education students) and students (pancyprian student coordinating committee).
Teaching materials (books, audio-visual materials, etc.) are available for pupils and teachers and they are very similar for all schools. 
All students study English throughout gymnasium, 3 periods in grade 1, 3 periods in grade 2, and 2 periods in grade 3.
Students choose either French or German as compulsory second foreign language, 2 periods in grade 1, 2 periods in grade 2, and 2 periods in grade 3.
No subjects in the curriculum are taught in a language other than the language of instruction.
The core curriculum in use today was introduced between 2010–2014.
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (ΜESY), has set high priority on the integration and exploitation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the educational process and on the development of digital skills for all pupils and teachers.
All subjects received updated curricula posted in 2025, focusing on reduction, modernization, and skills.
The Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth (MESY), through the Department of Secondary General Education, is the authority responsible for preparing, approving, and distributing teaching materials—including textbooks, digital resources, and audiovisual materials—for secondary education in Cyprus.
Textbooks used are officially approved by the Ministry.
Many textbooks are developed in cooperation with the Greek Ministry of Education, especially for core subjects (Greek language, history, sciences).
Digital and multimedia teaching materials are provided through:

• The digital tutorial platform (in cooperation with Greece)
• MESY’s own digital resources and portals

Curriculum, Subjects, and Number of Hours

At the Gymnasium level, a 3-year program of general education enriched with elements of technical knowledge is offered. All the subjects taught are compulsory. There are syllabuses for each subject, consisting of goals, subject matter and indicative teaching methods and materials. Syllabuses for each subject are devised by a team of experts comprising inspectors and teachers. A new, integrated curriculum for all subjects at all levels of school education, is gradually replacing the existing syllabuses as part of the ongoing Educational Reform.

The new curriculum was applied in June 2008 by the establishment of a Scientific Commission for the Revision of the School Curricula (Epistimoniki Epitropi gia tin Anatheorisi ton Analytikon Programmaton) and it was completed by the work of teams of specialists for each subject, consisting of university lecturers and primary and secondary school teachers. The official acceptance and publication of the new curricula were preceded by aψperiod of public consultation.

The new curricula encompass the broad aims of education in Cyprus; i.e. fundamental pedagogical principles; subject related principles; and, aims and objectives and the content for every curriculum subject for all grades. The curricula also encompass elements of teaching and learning methodology; indicators of achievement; methods of evaluation; and, indicative teaching activities.  

The broad aim of the new curricula is to contribute to the development of people that:

• Possess a satisfactory and connective body of knowledge from all areas of science;

• Develop behaviors and attitudes that characterize a democratic citizen; and,

• Possess, to the maximum possible degree, abilities, skills, and competencies that are required in the ‘knowledge society’ of the 21st century, including critical thinking; theoretical thinking and the ability to transfer theory into practice; analytical and planning abilities; problem-solving; creativity; cooperative abilities; optimal and sensible use of ICT; empathy; and, communication skills.

Starting September 1st, 2015, the following changes on the curricula of Gymnasiums were applied in the new timetable:

• Increase of the number of the weekly teaching periods from 37 to 38;
• Small variations in the distribution of teaching periods per course.

Information on the number of hours per year is provided in the publication, ‘Recommended minimum annual taught time in compulsory education in Europe’ for teaching time allocated to each subject.

More information on the new timetable of General Lower Secondary Education is available from the website of the Ministry of Education and Culture.

ICT and foreign language learning are a priority in the educational system of Cyprus. The overall goal for ICT is to harmonize initiatives to those of e-Europe and to develop Cyprus potential to be a regional center for providing educational services, including services in ICT. A national syllabus for ICT as a subject in its own right was for the first time implemented in 2002 at all levels of the public education system, while ICT as a tool has been integrated within other subject areas, such as foreign language learning.

In relation to the learning of foreign language learning, two foreign languages - English and French – are compulsory across the three grades of the gymnasium. Their broader aims are parallel to those of modern language teaching and learning, focusing on ‘know-what’ (content syllabus), ‘know-how’ (skills) and ‘know-why’ (cultural awareness and critical evaluation). language rooms are gradually being established at the gymnasium level. Modern language rooms are multi-functional classrooms that can be used either as a conventional classroom, as a Self Access Centre (SAC) or as a Language Resource Centre (LRC).

Teaching Methods and Materials

Teaching is structured by subject. The Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth does not prescribe guidelines for the teaching methodologies used in gymnasia. As all teachers are university graduates and have completed one year of pre-service professional training, they are expected to be familiar with all new teaching methodologies and techniques and to use the best method which meets the needs of the students and the requirements of the syllabus. At the beginning of every school year, special instructions on the use of the syllabus are sent out to teachers or given out as part of seminars facilitated by the Inspectorate of Secondary General Directorate,

Teachers are responsible for assessing the abilities and needs of their pupils and modifying their teaching accordingly. All methods in modern pedagogy are applied according to the subject and a variety of teaching materials and technological aids are used. Small group activities, project work, and computer-assisted learning are encouraged. The system of inspections ensures that teachers are using appropriate and up-to-date classroom methodology in their teaching.

The Curriculum Development Unit of the Pedagogical Institute of Cyprus is responsible for the development of books and audio-visual content that teachers and pupils use during lessons. All textbooks, materials, and teaching aids are provided to schools and pupils free of charge. All core teaching texts are the same in the public secondary general system. However, a school may opt to buy and use additional teaching materials.

Homework is one of the topics included in the curriculum that the Pedagogical Institute includes in the books that are used.

The operation of Steam schools

The Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth (MESY) informs that for the school year 2025-2026 the operation of the institution of the All-day Gymnasium of Interdisciplinary Learning continues, with parallel operation of two directions – direction STEAM and direction "Greek language and culture". The attendance of students during the morning will take place according to the existing timetable of the gymnasiums, while the afternoon meetings will take place between the hours of 14.00 – 15.20.
 The Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, through the establishment of the Technical Gymnasium, aims to enhance the appeal of technical professions by offering an educational model that connects theory with practice and better prepares students for their future career choices. The implementation of the pilot phase of the Technical Gymnasium, in collaboration with the Directorate of Secondary Technical and Vocational Education began in the 2025–2026 school year. The programme operates in the afternoon, beginning at 13:35 immediately after the end of the morning classes. From 13:35 to 14:00 a free meal is offered to all participating students, followed by two teaching periods of 40 minutes each, from 14:00 to 14:40 and from 14:40 to 15:20.

Educational material offered through the Digital Tutorial of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports of Greece

The Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth (MESY) informs that the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports of Greece has developed and operates through the Institute of Educational Policy (IEP), the "Digital Tutoring" portal, which is available at the following link: https://streaming.digitalschool.gov.gr/.
The "Digital Tutorial" is a portal of digital educational content and services of synchronous and asynchronous distance education in primary and secondary education, which is part of the Digital School and is open to students and teachers. The purpose of Digital Tutoring is to be a powerful tool for compensatory education for the entire school community and to contribute to maximizing educational opportunities for students.
Through the "Digital Tutorial", free live afternoon lectures are currently offered through distance learning for the Panhellenic Examination Subjects, including the special courses for the third grade of Lyceum (19 subjects for General Lyceums, 22 for Vocational Lyceums and 10 subjects of Special Education and Education).

Exam syllabus for junior high schools and lyceums

The Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth (MESY) for the current school year 2024/2025, in a timely manner and within the time frame set by the legislation in force, announced the exam syllabus for gymnasiums and lyceums.
After the completion of the first phase of the update of the curricula, as of August 2024, success rates and proficiency rates have declined across all courses in the context of the rationalization of the curriculum. With this data, the exam syllabus announced in April 2025 does not exceed 80% of the revised curriculum. 
The goal is, after the completion of the second phase of the update of the analytical program which is in progress and is expected to be completed in September 2025, in the next school years the identification of teaching will be institutionalized. Therefore, the success indicators and the proficiency indicators that will be announced in September of each school year will also be the exam syllabus of each course. 

Educational Program "Palpating History"

The history curriculum group of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth (MESY), on April 4, 2025, successfully completed the "palpating history" educational program. The program included ten online lectures from November 2024 to April 2025 and was attended by more than 490 teachers at public schools in Cyprus. The main aim was to strengthen through targeted supervising courses the cognitive background of teachers who teach history in secondary education, examining history and bringing them into contact with dominant and new historical knowledge in various historical periods and places. The topics presented covered Greek and Cypriot history from antiquity to the present day, as well as its teaching methodology in the classroom. Speakers were academic and historical researchers who presented selected topics of interest from various historical periods. 

An innovative initiative in Secondary Education by the Biology Review

The Biology Inspectorate of the directorate of secondary general education of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth (MESY) announced that the Net Zero for Youth (NZ4Y) program successfully organized the first "day of action" on March 29, 2025, promoting environmental awareness and collaboration among the sixty (60) students from twelve (12) ecological secondary education schools.
This innovative initiative combined outdoor activities with the principles of sustainability, empowering young people to cultivate environmental charge.
The event was held under the auspices of the Cyprus youth organisation, which is the institutional supporter of the program. The program is implemented thanks to the offers and sponsorships of various companies-organizations. Their contribution ensures that the young people of Cyprus are empowered with the knowledge and skills needed for a more sustainable future.

Operation of all-day gymnasiums of interdisciplinary learning

The Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth (MESY) informs that for the school year 2025 – 2026 the operation of the institution of the all-day gymnasium of interdisciplinary learning continues with parallel operation of two directions – Direction "STEAM" and direction "Greek language and culture".
Attendance during the morning will take place according to the existing timetable of gymnasiums, while afternoon meetings will take place between the hours of 14:00 – 15:20.
All-day gymnasiums operate:

1. In Nicosia district, Pancyprian gymnasium and Archangelos gymnasium Lakatamia.
2. In Limassol district, Lanitio gymnasium and Ypsonas high school.
3. In Larnaka district, at Evriviadio gymnasium.
4. In Famagusta district, at Paralimni high school.
5. In the district of Pafos, at Nikolaideio gymnasium. 

Operation of Technical Gymnasiums

The implementation of the pilot phase of the Technical Gymnasium, in collaboration with the Directorate of Secondary Technical and Vocational Education began in the 2025–2026 school year. The two participating schools are:

• the Agios Stylianos Gymnasium in Nicosia and 
• the Polemidia Gymnasium in Limassol. 

An Operational Framework for All-Day Lower Secondary Schools in Cyprus

The Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth (MESY) and specifically the Directorate of Secondary General Education, following a decision of the Council of Ministers, has implemented, during the school year 2024–2025, a pilot all-day school programme at Agios Dometios Gymnasium in Nicosia for the students of 7th grade (A’ class) under the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) 2023 in cooperation with SG Reform (European Commission) and UNESCO. The programme operated daily from 13:35 to 16:35, following the end of regular school hours, and provided lunch, structured academic support - enrichment opportunities and hobby education for participating students. Particular emphasis was placed on targeted assistance in core subjects, including Mathematics and Greek, with the aim of strengthening foundational skills and addressing learning gaps. In addition to academic reinforcement, students participated in a variety of complementary activities such as theatre, sports and visual arts, fostering creativity, collaboration and holistic development within a supportive and inclusive school environment. Following its successful first year of implementation, the programme continues for a second consecutive year 2025-2026 in Agios Dometios Gymnasium (students of 7th grade - A’ class) and it is also extended for the students of 8th grade (B’ class). Preparations are underway to extend its implementation to another school in Paphos district during the 2026–2027 school year, further reinforcing its contribution to improved educational outcomes.

Music Activities

As part of the strategic planning of the music sector 2021-2030 with emphasis on quality music education, and skills development and digital transformation in the 21st century, the Office of Secondary General Education Music Inspection, with the support of the Pedagogical Institute, has set among others the following objectives:

• Training teachers in the use and integration of digital technologies in the educational process.
• Development of pilot projects for the implementation and evaluation of new digital educational practices.
• Organization of educational conferences, seminars, and events for the sharing of knowledge and experiences on digital transformation in education.
• Development and promotion of digital educational resources and tools for teachers and students.
   

Study of the International Civic and Citizenship Education  (ICCS) 

The International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) is a global research initiative that provides comparative data on political education and citizenship among 13-year-old students. The ICCS 2022, focused on sustainable development, migration, diversity, social interaction, and global citizenship. The study involved 22 countries and 2 regions, with Cyprus participating through the Center for Educational Research and Evaluation. The research was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 3136 students and 1147 educators from 196 schools taking part. 

The results showed that Cypriot students scored lower than the international average in political education and citizenship content. Girls outperformed boys, and younger students performed better than older ones. Students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and immigrant backgrounds had lower performance in political education and citizenship. 

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth aims to use the research data to improve the educational system through various policies and actions, including promoting critical thinking, creativity, and citizenship skills in the curriculum. The Governance Program and action plan for 2024-25 target addressing the chronic distortions in the educational system in Cyprus.

Operation of All-day High Schools of Interdisciplinary Learning

In an announcement on March 2, 2023, the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth (MESY) informs that the operation of full-day High School of Interdisciplinary - Learning with Parallel two-way operation – “STEAM” Direction and Direction "Greek Language and Culture", will continue for the school year 2023-2024.
The students' classes, during the morning time, will take place based on the existing high school schedule, while the evening meetings will take place between the hours of 14:00 – 15:20.