The various areas under the competence of the Directorate of Primary Education include: Primary Education (primary schools: public and private), pre-primary education (kindergartens: public, community, private), special education (special schools, special units and provision of individualized assistance to children with special needs integrated into primary schools and kindergartens), the Cyprus educational mission (community schools in Great Britain),  the education of Greeks of the Diaspora, the Educational and Summer Camps and the Training Centers.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth (MESY) in Cyprus has broad, centralized responsibility for everything related to primary education. Because the system is highly centralized, the Ministry controls almost every major decision.
The responsibilities of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth for Primary Education concerning curriculum and learning content include:

• Designing the national curriculum
• Defining learning objectives for each subject
• Approving or producing textbooks
• Approving audio visual and digital materials
• Issuing teacher guides

All subjects offered by primary education are compulsory. There are no options for core curriculum.

The daily operating time of the primary school is seven 40-minute teaching periods with three breaks, with a total duration of 40 minutes.

The timetable of all primary schools and all classes is common. The duration of the lessons is from 7.45 am to 1.05 pm.

Curriculum, subjects, number of hours

The National Curriculum for public primary schools is determined by the Council of Ministers upon suggestions by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth. A new curriculum is being gradually implemented since September 2011 in public primary schools. This is part of an integrated curriculum that covers all levels of school education, pre-primary, primary and secondary. The new curricula have been compiled in the framework of the ongoing Educational Reform with the aim of upgrading the whole education system.

The initiative started in June 2008 by the establishment of a Scientific Commission for the Revision of the School Curricula (Epistimoniki Epitropi gia tin Anatheorisi τton Analitikon Programmaton) and it was completed by the work of teams of specialists for each subject, consisting of university teachers and teachers of primary and secondary education. A period of public consultation followed before the new curricula be officially accepted and published.

The new curricula encompass the broad aims of education in Cyprus; fundamental pedagogical principles; subject related principles; 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, which include: critical thinking; theoretical thinking and the ability to transfer theory into practice; analysis and planning abilities; problem-solving; creativity; cooperative abilities; optimal and sensible use of ICT; empathy; and, communication skills.

The curriculum is common to all public primary schools. All the subjects are compulsory and they are taught in Greek. There are no core curriculum options and no subjects are taught in a language other than the language of instruction. The time allocated to each subject varies according to the school type, that is whether the school operates with one class, two classes, three to five classes or six or more classes.

The maximum number of students in each class is 25.

New curricula for the development of digital skills 

New curricula for the development of digital skills are offered in primary schools
The Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth (MESY) introduced a new curriculum for new technologies, at grades 5th and 6th of primary education. It consists in a separate subject, developing a subject module called "Health Education – Home Economics / Design and Technology – New Technologies". This addition is expected to strengthen the mainstreaming of digital skills and digital/media literacy in all school subjects.
The subject "New Technologies" (Development of digital technologies for learning) is covered in 16 teaching periods in grade 5 and 16 teaching periods in grade 6, and it includes three modules:
o    Computational thinking
o    Digital skills
o    Digital competence

The module which cultivates students' digital competences is embedded in four (4) teaching periods in grade 5 (cyberbullying / video – online games) and four (4) teaching periods in grade 6 (information – misinformation / personal data and digital identity).

The Safer Internet Centre of Cyprus was tasked with developing the four learning modules, containing further analysis of the New Curriculum’s objectives and indicators, analysis, and planning of activities for each module, and development of supporting material. To develop learning modules, the learning design team analyzed the activities utilizing digital tools and material and aligning each activity with the relevant learning objective and expected learning products. At the same time, considering the role of the teacher and the student, the Centre monitored the whole process to aid in the formative and final assessment.
Information And Communication (ICT) Technologies Unit
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth (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.

For the achievement of this goal, the ICT Unit operates through a range of actions for developing modern infrastructure in schools, for providing adequate equipment and for providing appropriate software to enable teachers to use ICT in teaching creatively and effectively. At the same time, emphasis is placed on the continuous training of teachers for developing their ICT skills for personal use and for use in the educational process.

Finally, actions are taken to promote eGovernment through the development of systems and web applications to manage administrative processes. The aim of these systems is to automate the processes offered by the MESY to schools and other stakeholders, to improve the information provided by the MESY and to improve communication.

The ICT unit is coordinated by a head and is divided into 4 sectors:
•    The sector of administrative procedures management
•    The sector for the use of ICT in the learning process
•    The technology infrastructure and equipment sector
•    The contract and tender sector
Also, the structure of the ICT Unit includes the Department of Information Technology.

Primary teachers use teaching methods, especially:

• student centered learning 
• cooperative learning
• inquiry based learning
• ICT enhanced teaching
• differentiated instruction

Teachers are trained to select appropriate methods based on their class needs.
The Ministry encourages active learning, critical thinking, and modern pedagogical strategies.
In primary education, teachers are free to choose the teaching methodology that best suits their classroom, if they meet the national curriculum goals. The Ministry encourages flexible, student centered approaches, and the Pedagogical Institute supports teachers in developing their own professional practice.
The National Curriculum and the teaching methodologies adopted in Cyprus Primary Education emphasize the learning process and focus on strategies which assist pupils in learning how to learn and in developing their critical and creative thinking.

Primary education in Cyprus structured in a cross-curricular manner which is a core principle of the Cyprus national curriculum.
The Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth (MOEC) promotes an approach where subjects are not taught in isolation but are connected through:

• common themes
• shared learning goals
• integration of skills across subjects
• project based and interdisciplinary activities

The authority responsible for preparing textbooks and audio visual materials for primary schools in Cyprus is Cyprus Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth (MESY).
More specifically, this responsibility sits within the Ministry’s curriculum development units, which determine curricula, syllabi, and approve and produce textbooks and teaching materials for all public schools.

The authority responsible for preparing textbooks and audio visual materials for primary schools in Cyprus is the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth (MESY).
More specifically, this responsibility sits within the Ministry’s curriculum development units, which determine curricula, syllabi, and approve and produce textbooks and teaching materials for all public schools.

The subjects that are currently taught in primary education are the following:

1. Mathematics
2. Greek Language
3. Social Issues (Religion, Geography, History)
4. Natural sciences - design and technology
5. English
6. Music
7. Other subjects

Subject allocation in weekly periods in primary schools with six or more teachers

Teaching methods and materials

The Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth does not prescribe guidelines for teaching methodologies to be used in public primary schools. As all teachers are university graduates, they are expected to be familiar with modern teaching methodologies and techniques and to be able to apply the best method according to the needs of the class and the requirements of the curriculum. The system of inspections ensures that teachers are using appropriate and up-to-date classroom methodology in their teaching.

Teachers are expected to take the following principles into account when organizing the teaching of the various subjects of the curriculum:
● Consider school to be a place in which all children are accepted as they are, with their own capabilities and weaknesses, and are treated as individual personalities with particular needs and talents, which must be met accordingly;
● Create a pleasant, friendly and encouraging working environment, offering each child the opportunity to succeed;
● Promote, as possible, an interdisciplinary approach in order to provide consistency in education;
● Consider their pupils’ abilities in defining lesson objectives. 

The Curriculum Development Unit of the Pedagogical Institute is responsible for the preparation of books and audio-visual material that teachers and pupils use during their lessons. Books prepared by the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs of Greece are also widely used. All of this material is provided to schools and pupils free of charge. All core teaching texts are the same in the public primary system. However, a school may buy and use supplementary materials with the financial support of the Local School Board or the Parents’ Association, provided that they have prior been approved by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth.

Homework is considered an indispensable part of the teaching and learning process. Principles and guidelines on homework are found in a number of circulars of the Department of Primary Education. Amongst others, it is stipulated that due consideration should be paid both to the amount and the type of the homework set so that it will be suitably graded in terms of difficulty and in accordance to the age and ability of the pupils. Teachers should also consider the resources available in the home and the parents’ attitudes against homework.

Reinforcement Teaching of the Greek Language

The Council of Ministers approved on June 23, 2023, a Proposal of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth (MESY) to strengthen the Program of Remedial Teaching of the Greek Language for children with an immigrant background in Primary Education schools that do not participate in the DRA.SE Program + (School and Social Integration Actions).
This Decision provides for the support of Primary Education schools that do not participate in the DRA.SE+ Program, with additional teachers, to meet the increased needs for remedial teaching of Greek to children with an immigrant background who attend these schools.
The goal of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth with the implementation of the decision, is the more effective integration of children with an immigrant background into the educational system of Cyprus.

Learning Action on Internet Security

With the participation of thousands of students and dozens of primary school teachers from different geographical areas of Cyprus and Greece, the online educational action: "Athena and Dicky in The Magic World of the Internet ", about Internet security, took place.
This educational action was co-organized, for the first time, in December 2021, from the Cyprus Safe Internet Center - CYberSafety, coordinated by the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute, of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth, and the Center Safe Internet in Greece. 
The action aimed to empower creative and critical students in matters of creative, responsible, and safe use of the Internet. About 200 departments of Grade A’ and Grade B’ of Primary school in Cyprus and Greece, participated in this specific educational event.

Implementation of a pilot program STEM in Primary Education.

Pilot program STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) program has been teaching in a pilot program in eight primary schools since 2021.The operation of STEM program is also planned to be implemented in Secondary Education.

The program which states the educational policy and direction promotes an integrated interdisciplinary approach to the learning process. Children are involved in activities that provide them with opportunities to utilize knowledge, concepts, processes and practices in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to address situations and issues related to the world of everyday life.

The students complete projects through which they seek, design, elaborate and propose innovative solutions to various issues of the 1-day experience, in a context of coexistence and synergy of the four disciplines.

Training for Special Education teachers and educational psychologists in the "Safe State" Program

The Cyprus Institute of Education in collaboration with the Department of Primary Education organizes in the current school year a series of training sessions on special/unified education. In this context, training on sexual education of children with disabilities will be provided to teachers working in Special schools and educational psychologists. This training is part of the framework of the National Strategy against Sexual Abuse and Child Abuse and Child Pornography (2015).

The training is based on the European 'Keep me Safe' educational program, which aims for the co-operation among European countries in the formulation of intervention programs and prevention of sexual abuse and violence against young people with learning disabilities (10-25 years).

Environmental education

The Ministry of Education, Sport, and Youth enhances students' experiential learning and healthy creative employment by creating environmental camps at the State Network Environmental Education Centers.

An important educational action will be launched in July 2020, linked to the utilization of the State-run Environmental Education Centers (SEECs) during the summer months as places for creative and healthy childcare when schools are closed.  Through this new environmental action, the aim of the Ministry is, in addition to providing children with the opportunity to learn about the environment of our country, through organized activities in environmental areas, to enhance the socialization of children through alternative learning-based processes in games and more broadly in creativity.