Nicosia, Cyprus. Education Minister Athena Michaelidou said public schools must become more student-centred, promote critical thinking and creativity, and better respond to the needs of every child.
Speaking on Thursday to top-performing students in the 2026 university entrance examinations, she said the ministry was committed to reducing the curriculum, limiting the need for private tutoring and expanding full-day schooling.
Education reforms
“Our goal is to reduce the amount of material students have to study, lessen the need for private lessons, offer more opportunities for full-day schools and, above all, make schools more attractive,” Michaelidou said.
The minister congratulated the students and invited them to submit proposals for improving schools, saying they were well placed to advise the ministry after spending around 13 years in the education system.
Assessment proposals
Several students called for changes to pupil assessment.
Christos Kalyvitis, who secured a place to study mathematics at the University of Cyprus, proposed reducing the number of non-exam subjects in the final year of secondary school.
Nikolas Christou, who will study French and European Studies, and Marilia Constantinou, who secured a place in accounting, finance and economics, said non-exam subjects should carry less weight in the overall assessment.
Chara Orfanou, who will study medicine, called for greater emphasis on examined subjects. Marina Hadjimichael, who secured a place at the University of Cyprus law school, highlighted the heavy workload in the classical studies stream, particularly in history and ancient Greek.
Achilleas Papadimitriou, who will study computer science, said schools should focus more on pupils and practical skills rather than solely preparing them for examinations.
Medical student Giorgos Lipertis called for greater recognition of pupils’ individual talents and suggested less predictable examination questions, particularly in Greek composition, to encourage critical thinking rather than memorisation.