Republic of Cyprus Second Voluntary National Report - Sustainable development goals

55 An encouraging fact about quality education in Cyprus is the high percentage (58%) of the population aged between 30-34 years old with a tertiary education degree, which places Cyprus 1st among EU countries (the EU average is 40.3%). The employment rate of recent graduates in Cyprus is just above the EU average (81.7% and 80.9% of the population aged 20-34 with at least upper-secondary education, respectively) placing Cyprus 18 th among EU countries (see Figure 15). For both indicators, an upward trend is observed, which shows that from 2010 to 2019 both tertiary education attainment and employment rates for recent graduates have improved, from 45.3% to 58.8% and from 78.4% to 81.7%, respectively. GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES Literacy/Lifelong Learning • To reduce the learning disruptions due to Covid-19, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth adopted remote learning Early Care and Education (ECE) practices such as distance education and television programmes for pre-primary learners. • The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in an increase in the use of digital technology in Higher Education and Technical and Vocational education learning. • The Educational Psychology Service (EPS) has created counselling material for schools and for parents in order to support the achievement of quality education and mitigate the impact of the pandemic. The EPS has offered training for most of its staff for Crisis Intervention in Schools developed and implemented by the International School PsychologyAssociation (ISPA). • Steps have been taken for the development of an online platform for the collection of data from all public and private Higher Education Institutions in Cyprus. • A pilot support programme for 33 primary schools, with a large number/percentage of children with an increased risk for functional illiteracy was implemented. • An upgraded educational policy was introduced aiming at the smooth integration of students with a migrant background. • Reform of the curriculum in all school subjects to target more effectively the core skills and the key competences in literacy and numeracy. Reforms • Implementation of the new School Management System (SMS), which is currently being designed after having secured EU funding. • Establishment of the permanent Unit for Education for Environment and Sustainable Development, the mission of which is to promote and effectively implement a comprehensive education policy on Environmental Education/ Education for Sustainable Development. • Upgrading building infrastructures, for creating zero energy schools and creating healthy, sustainable, and resilient school settings. This is achieved as part of various national projects (e.g., the installation of photovoltaic systems in 405 school buildings amounting to €5,828,493) and of European projects (e.g., “Pedia projects” where 25 schools were restructured to zero energy schools amounting to €7.5 million). • The National Strategy for the Prevention and Management of School Violence has been established (2018-2022) and the Law on the Prevention and Response to Domestic Violence of 2020 has been passed. • Implementation of a series of consultation meetings and seminars (2017-2019) focusing on the integration of students with a migrant background into the school education system. • Development of a National Strategy and Action Plan for the Prevention and Combating of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children and Child Pornography. Digital Education • The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth has provided about 10% of students with equipment and/or internet access. Vocational Training • During the current school year (2020-2021) the total number of students enrolled in the Lifelong Learning Programmes of Vocational Education and Training decreased to 701 compared to 780 students during 2019-2020. • In 2017 post-secondary education and training institutes were certified by the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA) as Public Schools of Higher Vocational Education and Training. • Since 2017, the Department of Secondary General Education (DSGE) has had the responsibility of the programme which aims at providing a second chance at education to students under 15 years old, who have dropped out of school. Gender Equality • An Action Plan for primary education (2018-2020) was developed that included a number of actions and measures promoting gender equality. • The Strategic Planning for the Equality of Men and Women (2018-2020) was developed by the Committee for Gender Equality of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth. • An antiracist policy has been developed through the drafting of a “Code of Conduct Against Racism & Guide for Managing and Reporting Racist Incidents” in schools.