education
FRIDAY FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26 26 FEBRUARY 2016 2016
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Private school popularity There are many reasons why private education is still the first choice for so many parents By Athena Karsera
R
egardless of whether the choice is nursery, kindergarten, primary or secondary school level, many families are rejecting the financial crunch and opting for the myriad benefits only a private school can offer. The size of a school, teacher-to-pupil ratios, sports, library and laboratory facilities, extracurricular activities options and even length of the school day and are all factors taken into consideration. Many private schools, for A number of private schools example, are chosen because also boast a particularly they are able to offer a more famstrong academic record ily-like environment and attracwhich many parents may tively smaller classes than state schools are in a position to proconsider an advantage vide. This creates a better opportunity for teachers to give individual pupils more attention if and when required. Respect for authority and discipline are usually also easier to enforce in this kind of environment. In many cases, private schools can also supply sports or educational facilities that government funds cannot stretch to at state schools, particularly during these difficult economic times. Afternoon activities provided onsite at private schools are another attractive incentive, helping to keep pupils constructively occupied during the afternoon and also encouraging them to develop a variety of skills and become more rounded individuals. A wide range of extracurricular activities are offered at most schools, catering for interests as diverse as drama and archery, depending on the school. Afternoon support Parents may also pre-
fer to avoid the need for extra afternoon classes that are often called for in a state school environment for their children to take international exams, in addition to the state school Apolytirion. This can be achieved by sending a child to a facility which offers classes during the regular school day that will eventually lead to their taking international examinations such as (but not limited to) A-levels or the International Baccalaureate, and opening the way for specific university studies overseas. There are also changes to Cyprus state university access in the works, through a proposal which has already been passed by the Cabinet and will soon be going before the House Plenum. This will potentially also open the way for more private school graduates to attend the University of Cyprus or the Cyprus University of Technology. There are more details on the proposal in this supplement. A number of private schools also boast a particularly strong academic record which many parents may consider an advantage. Often there are also practical issues to consider, including the school’s language of instruction. Expatriate as well as repatriated Cypriot families often feel that schooling in a language other than Greek is their only viable option. This is particularly true for families that may be passing through Cyprus for a time before the parents’ work takes them elsewhere, such as in the case of consular personnel. Greek language It is worth noting, though, that a number of Greekmedium private school also thrive in Cyprus, offering pupils all the benefits in the comfort of their home language. Some families may, for any number of reasons, also prefer to have their child educated in the multicultural environment most private schools can offer, and provide their children with strong additional language skills. Some private schools provide tuition in more than one language from as early as kindergarten level and most private schools in Cyprus are attended by pupils from around the world. Private schools also make strong efforts to play an active role in the local community. Private school pu-
pils are often encouraged to volunteer for a variety of worthy causes and children are encouraged to learn more about the world around them and do what they can for charity. It is also worth noting that private schools have in recent years also been included in many Education Ministry educational programmes, including second year of secondary school access to the state’s laptop subsidy. Working hours Particularly when both parents work full-time, private kindergartens in particular may also be the only feasible choice for younger children since, they have operating hours that are in many cases far longer than the state-provided care. Another bonus is that they may not necessarily close for the holidays for as many days as state schools do. Sometimes, the choice to send a child to a private school may come down to something as simple as family tradition. If a parent, or, in some cases, grandparent attended a specific school, it may be a natural choice for a child to go there, too. According to the most recent official figures available, during the 2012-2013 school year, 26.6% of the pupils and students in Cyprus were attending private educational institutions. Of these, 1,777 were at English-language kindergartens or crèches and 1,173 at Greek-language ones, and 12 at Arabic-language facilities. In the primary school category, of the 53,746 pupils at this level of their education in Cyprus, 4,201 attended private schools. Of the secondary school population, 82.2% of the 60,793-strong pupil population was enrolled in public schools and the remaining 17.8% in private schools. It is also important to note that, even during these cash-strapped times, private schools are also not a prerogative only for the well-off. Some private schools have been adjusting their fees or offering special scholarships and incentives in recognition of the financial difficulties faced by some families. Many parents also factor in the potential cost of afternoon lessons when deliberating between private or state school. Taking all this into account, it is no surprise that private schools still remain the first choice for so many families in Cyprus.