Schooling in Cyprus

[kimonas]

Originally Posted by Veronica

Kimonas you say many Cypriot families spend a small fortune on extra tuiton. If you look at Emilios post he pays over 7,000 per year for the IOP.
I cannot imagine that Cypriot parents need to pay anywhere near that ammount for any tuition that might be needed. Maybe I am wrong though

It wouldn't be far off. I used to be a private tutor in Nicosia - the going rate a few years ago was 20Cypriot pounds and hour which is c35Euro. The parents of my tutees (I only needed a couple to keep my head above water) were paying out c.2000 Euros a year for just one subject. A typical student would do English 4 times a week, maths 5 times a week, another foreign language a couple of times a week, science 4 times a week and perhaps a humanity a couple of times a week. Then there would be tennis lessons on Saturdays too. It all mounts up. That's c. 17 private lessons a week. Even if we half the tuition fees for the other subjects (English tutors may be more expensive, I don't know what the others were charging) or just concentrate on a few subjects, we're still looking at a couple of hundred Euros a week. Most parents would take out loans to pay for the extra tuition needed to get IGCSEs and A levels. The strange thing was that some of my students were from private schools <snip> and were disinterested anyway, because they knew the hard work came in the afternoons and evenings when they saw their private tutors one-to-one). So these parents were paying a fortune for morning school AND hiring a battery of expensive private tutors.

[kimonas]

Originally Posted by samantha72

Hi everyone,
I happen to know a few things more about this **************** and please please please, before anyone goes and register your children there, contact the Ministry of Education in Nicosia and confirm what I already know... this school is ILLEGAL !!!!
Has not and never had any permission to operate.
I don't want to say anything more, please anyone interested contact the Ministry of Education in Nicosia...

I'm afraid that the Ministry of Education (perhaps like most Cypriot Ministries) is not the most efficient. As with title deeds in the housing sector, many schools are recognised and supported, inspected even, but although they may have applied for a liscence, it will take for ever to actually arrive. Ocassionaly it will be another technicality from a further glacial ministry which will hold up the issuing of the liscence, such as a fire certificate (as is the case for another major and well known High School in Nicosia which is technically illegal). I have also worked in several well known schools that are technically illegal.

[Lazer]

Does anyone know anything about the new institute that's opened in St George, Peyia? I found a website for it saying it was opening in Jan 09. The reason I ask is that we are planning to relocate to Cyprus in 2010 and are going out this April to have a look at English speaking schools (our kids are 6 & 8yrs old). My parents are having a house built near Polemi, so we are planning on being near Paphos.

[francisbl]

did they speak greek before they went to local school

[francisbl]

Originally Posted by Veronica

I think it is far better to put children into the local schools if you intend to live here permanently. It helps them to integrate into the community and also helps parents to become more accpeted than if they seperate their children by putting them in the international schools.
I know people who have children in both systems and the ones who go to the local schools are far happier here.

did ur children speak greek before they went to local school

[DonnaWestBrom]

I think we worry about the children and how they will cope in school more than the actual move lol

Our son will be going to ISOP, but after 12 months and he's settled into the different way of life i'm hoping that he will want to go into a local state school. I agree that the children and parents seem to get along with the locals better if they attend the state schools.

I'd feel much better him knowing a bit of greek before he does though.

As anyone done this? (Moved them from ISOP into a state school)
Is it easily done?

[Arranexpat]

I do know Greek is compulsory at the Paphos International School unless you pay 2000 EUR to let them drop it.

[Miles and Sue]

we were fully intending to send our 2 to ISOP but after much soul searching and visiting various schools, reading the forums and talking to people out here we took the plunge and sent our 2 to the local school in peyia, they do not speak greek but the school give them intensive greek lessons (every day) they also put them back a year in their education so they do not fall behind in other words the first year they learn greek and then carry on from where they were. the local school has 45 english kids who all live local this was a major factor in our decision as we felt that they would settle in easier if they had friends locally. - so far so good.

we are also attending greek lessons run at the school - it is hard going !

[Lazer]

Originally Posted by Miles and Sue

we are also attending greek lessons run at the school - it is hard going !

Hang in there, it can only get easier!

Could you give me the name of the local school in Peyia? Maybe we'll check it out when we visit in April. Only 5 weeks until our trip...

[Miles and Sue]

it is the elementary school of peyia turn right near the top of the hill (just next to the mill pub) and follow the road the school is about 500m on your left