Cyprus-Forum.com

[steveash]

Hope someone on here knows the answer, as i cannot get an answer from the Cypriot high comission in london even!!!.

We are hoping to move next month with my 2 children (4 and 7) and want to get them into state school from the start, however they do not speak any Greek, now do they have to have a knowledge of greek at a basic level to start state school or not?

[oranos64]

Hope someone on here knows the answer, as i cannot get an answer from the Cypriot high comission in london even!!!.

We are hoping to move next month with my 2 children (4 and 7) and want to get them into state school from the start, however they do not speak any Greek, now do they have to have a knowledge of greek at a basic level to start state school or not?

Mate if you have the money ... get them into private schools ..the state schools are a joke ...the kids are given more homework then we ever got in a year per month as a child in the UK ...failing that get them in a secondary level .

MOST PEOPLE FROM THE U.K send their kids to private education schools

if you are coming to larnca or the east of the island .. i can put you in touch with english education advisors to assist you

my email if you ....

[Nikitas]

We sent our son to Greek state primary school when he spoke no Greek (English was our home language, still is). He learned very fast, and by the second year he was the best in class in Greek language.

Reverse happened to me when I went to English school at age 13, learned fast and by second year got the form prize for English. So do not worry about the children learning Greek, your main worry should be about them not losing their English.

The school system in Cyprus is tougher on the kids at primary level, but it explains how so many Cypriots do well at university in most countries around the world. It gives you solid foundations. After going through school and university in more than one country I can say that my biggest debt is to my primary education in Cyprus. My one advice is to move to the island just before the summer holidays and let the children play with local kids. That should get them past their initial fears and shock. Shock of the first day is a worry, if memory serves nothing beats the shock of a tough north London comprehensive school!

[Nikitas]

Re your question about enrolling, there is no special issue. Once you settle your residence in the locality and have an address your children go the school designated local to your area.

[Bill]

Hope someone on here knows the answer, as i cannot get an answer from the Cypriot high comission in london even!!!.

We are hoping to move next month with my 2 children (4 and 7) and want to get them into state school from the start, however they do not speak any Greek, now do they have to have a knowledge of Greek at a basic level to start state school or not?

The quick answer is NO your children do not need to speak Greek to go to state school.

The 7 year old will attend classes as normal but wont really take part in activities until he / she understands whats going on ~ it's going to be pretty boring for them sitting in the class as what is known as a "listener" ~ eventually as their Greek gets better they will join in ~ your child may also be put back a year or two and be with children much younger ~~ this leads to a certain amount of ridicule from other students

Support for non Greek speaking pupils varies from school to school with extra Greek language lessons some area's / schools are better than others ~ sadly you will not have a choice as your child will go to the school most local to you.

Children are often required to do most of their learning at home after being given the basics in the school lessons ~ that's when your child actually understands what's happening of course ~~ the amount of homework given to Cypriot children is huge compared to the English state school system

The 4 year old will have no problem adjusting but the 7 year old will struggle at first ~~ although children do pick things up very easily at that age.

What should concern you most of all is looking to the future ~ are you going to stay in Cyprus for ever or are you going to return some time .

If you return home after say two years ( the usual time scale for people finding out Cyprus isn't really for them ) you will be doing your children a grave injustice by sending them to a Greek state school.

7 years old isn't to old to adapt to the Greek state school system BUT if you return to the UK your child will have a hell of a job adjusting and catching up which would cause problems ~~ so you will have put your child through the mill twice ~~ could cause deep psychological problems with a minority of children and just a very distressing time for others.

I disagree with Oranos64 comment on Greek state schools ~ I would say they are far better than UK state schools but then it always depends on the child of course as to how well they get on.

Private school for your 7 year old will probably cost around £3000 a year so unless you have bit of savings put by for this it's not going to be affordable unless you have a very good job ~~ for 90% of expats it's impossible on the mostly poor wages ( compared to the UK ) available in Cyprus.

You are playing with your childrens future ~ a great deal of thought is needed before you make the move to Cyprus.

Bill