student numbers — student numbers — The total number of students in Cyprus increased to 218,129 in the 2023/2024 school year, reflecting a 4.7 per cent rise from the previous year’s 208,374, according to the latest data from the statistical service.
Student numbers: Growing Educational Institutions
As the student population expands, the number of schools and educational institutions has also risen, reaching 1,368 this year, an increase from 1,351 in 2022/2023. This growth corresponds with a rise in the total number of teachers, which now stands at 17,298, marking a 5 per cent increase from 16,475 last year.
Pre-School and Primary Education on the Rise
In pre-school and nursery education, there are currently 778 institutions catering to 38,931 children, up from 764 institutions and 37,344 youngsters in the previous year. For primary education, 361 schools now serve 60,079 pupils, compared to 358 schools and 58,168 pupils last year.
Secondary and Higher Education Developments
The secondary education sector has also seen slight changes, with 170 schools hosting 61,230 students, a minor adjustment from last year’s 171 schools and 59,926 students. In the realm of higher education, 59 institutions enrolled 57,889 students, representing a significant 9.4 per cent increase from 52,936 students in 58 institutions during the 2022/2023 academic year.
Financial Commitment to Education
This year, public spending on education in Cyprus reached €1.599 billion, which constitutes 12.1 per cent of the national budget and 4.9 per cent of the GDP. This compares to last year’s spending of €1.446 billion, which accounted for 12.9 per cent of the budget and maintained the same GDP percentage. Spending per student has also seen an increase across various education levels, with spending of €6,413 for pre-school, €8,975 for primary, €13,232 for general secondary, €15,692 for technical secondary, and €15,084 for universities.
Impact on Special Education
Special education has not been overlooked, with 11 schools now serving 575 students, alongside 213 teachers. This is an increase from 551 students and 211 teachers the year before, highlighting a commitment to inclusive education.
The data illustrates a clear trend: more students are attending school at all levels, supported by an increase in funding and resources. As Cyprus invests more in its education sector, the growing numbers reflect a positive trajectory for the future of education in the country.
