Cyprus-Forum.com

[maxineattwood]

Hi, my name is Maxine. I think this forum is great.
My husband,myself and my two children (ages 10 & 6) are looking in the near future to move to Paralimni. (or surrounding areas)
We have been to Cyprus on a number of times, and have decided this is where we want to live.
Please could anyone advise us on the education in Cyprus ?
Is it best to send my children to a Cypriot school or a english private school.
Also whats the work situation like out their?
My husband is a qualified scaffolder and does all types of building work.
We are in contact with three different property developers,and are looking to come out in the next few weeks too have a look round property.
Also ,the healthcare sounds very good,much better than here in the UK.

Thank-you so much for taking the time to read this and i look forward to hearing your comments.

Cant wait too come too Cyprus

Kind Regards

Maxine

[pumpernickle]

Hi

welcome

do your kids speak greek? I my be able to advise you on the education angle

regards

[maxineattwood]

Hi

Thanks for your reply.

No, they both only speak english.

Regards

Maxine

[pumpernickle]

Right,

in that case they can only go to a private school. The public school system is rubbish believe me, and they dont cater for english only speakers.

So....I advise that if you are sticking around Paralimni, you investigate the private school that covers that area. It is called Xenion High School, and ou can find out more on their site:

www.xenion.ac.cy

or, there are the Pascal english schools, based in larnaca, nicosia and limassol. Again, check their sites.

all the best

[maxineattwood]

Thanks again , i will bear that in mind and contact the schools that you have advised.

Regards Maxine

[Sotos]

The public school system is rubbish believe me

Why is rubbish?? Some of the private schools might be a bit better otherwise why would anybody pay to go to them?

Xenion High School

I didn't know Paralimni had an English school. Is it of the same standards as the Grammar School and the American Academy?

[cyprusgrump]

I know people that have had very good experiences sending their English speaking children to local schools. All the teachers speak English and the children pick up Greek remarkably quickly (unlike me).

[pumpernickle]

Xenion is 5 years old (the high school that is) the elementary school, or institute, has been going in longer and is well established and thriving.

fees for the upper school are £3,500 per year.

Around 10% ish of students are English kids, and when in high school get taught various subjects up to I-GCSE level.

It is in the heart of Paralimni - so if you want to send your kids to Pascal, then that is 35 - 40 min drive to Larnaca, and add another 35-40 to Nicosia, or an hour ish just under to Limassol.

I have a strong understanding of the state school system out here. The teachers who get employed to these schools are taken from a list which is sizeable (consists of a large backlog of waiting private school teachers and other applicants all of greek cypriot origin.)

The teachers who get to the front of this queue and get state school jobs are laughing. Why? Well, as a former civil servant from London , I know all about the following:

a) being a state school teacher means you double your earning potential (around a thousand a month min plus)

b) it is impossibe to get sacked. IM POS SIB LE. TO lose your job. Even murder and arson would not get a teacher fired.

c) there are ZERO standards in state schools, no league table, so team of inspectors from the government , nothing.

d) Teachers are pretty much not expetced to teach. Anything. At all. They baby sit. Give students some paper, and let them get on with it. There is no culture of excellence or academic achievement, its a joke.

e) Discipline is a joke, and there is no differentiation in the classroom, so expect your child to experience hell if he or she goes to a state school.


only one way forward: go private:

Pascal or Xenion.

The pure and simple truth of the matter.
Oh, and bring books, plenty of books...there are very few book shops out here, and books are taxed to hell thus expensive. So get packing!!



all the best me dears

[sk]

hm.... it is true that the level of education and discipline in public schools have fallen dramatically over the last years and i have to admit the reasons are those explained by pumpernickle.
if you are planning to send your children to a private english speaking school at least make sure your kids will learn greek,since you have decided to live in cyprus this will improve their chances for job opportunities later.
of course you can send them to a private greek speaking school but i dont think one exists in that part of the island.......
with the decrease in the level of education in public schools ,if your kids do learn greek it wont be impossible to take the exams to enter the uni in cyprus(since they will have a strong education base from their private school)

[pumpernickle]

You must remember that you only need a degree (any discipline and grade) to become a teacher in Cyprus.

Not like Blighty, where they want a degree and a PGCE, plus experience generally.

Any tom dick and harry can become a teacher.

And many teachers in English schools dont speak Greek! You can bet your bottom dollar there are no english speaking teachers in state schools. Not ones who can string a sentence together using correct tenses etc.

Listen, education is a tricky one out here. You best bet is with the previously mentioned places.

DO NOT send them to state schools.