Cyprus Trails EU in Vocational Secondary Education Enrolment, President Christodoulides Says

Nicosia, Cyprus. Only 17.9 per cent of secondary school students in Cyprus follow vocational programmes, while the EU average stands at 52.4 per cent, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Thursday. He stressed the need to make technical and vocational training more appealing to young people.

Address at SkillsCyprus 2026

Labour Minister Marinos Mousiouttas read the president’s address on his behalf at the opening of the ninth National Skills Competition, SkillsCyprus 2026, held at the State Fair in Nicosia. Christodoulides said Cyprus still trails other EU member states in enrolment in technical and vocational streams.

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European Commission recommendations

Referring to the European Commission’s latest country-specific recommendations, he said Cyprus is still among the fastest-growing economies in the EU, but problems remain in productivity, innovation and skills development. The Commission pointed to the need to tackle labour shortages and raise the quality of employment. It proposed doing so by bringing more vulnerable groups into the labour market and by enlarging the capacity and appeal of vocational education and training.

Role of skills competitions and the Technical Gymnasium

Christodoulides said skills competitions serve this aim by showing that technical and vocational fields offer “excellent prospects for career advancement and professional recognition”. He also described the creation of the Technical Gymnasium as a milestone for education in Cyprus. According to him, the school has already grown since it was introduced, which shows both the gap left by the earlier lack of such a specialised school and the preferences of students.

Digital, green and entrepreneurial skills

The president underlined the importance of building digital, green and entrepreneurial skills so that young people are prepared for the demands of today’s labour market.

Artificial intelligence and technical jobs

On the impact of artificial intelligence, he said technical and vocational occupations that involve practical work, judgement, adaptability and problem-solving would not be easily automated. He added: “Technology will transform many of these jobs, but it will also increase the need for people with modern technical skills who can make use of new tools.”