Technical and vocational education in Cyprus : past, present and future

Abstract

The present study represents a case study of the Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) system of the small Island State of Cyprus. It attempts to look briefly into the largely failed efforts by the British colonisers of this island (1978-1959) to establish vocational schools and, consequently, into the more successful efforts by the Government of the independent Republic of Cyprus (1960-1995). The controversy that these efforts sparked up on whether there should be a general or a vocational education for the children of the Cypriots and its effects on the development of the Cyprus TVE are also cited. This study also attempts to answer an evaluation question: "Can the Cyprus TVE be considered to be successful or a failure?" The author considers the answer to this question as a basically economic matter, since the ultimate purpose of TVE is to serve the needs of the economy. Particular attention, where applicable, is paid to the implications of the smallness of the Cyprus economy on the development of TVE on the island. Finally, the future of TVE in Cyprus is considered, though only within the context of two recent attempts concerning the future of whole educational system and the whole country: Firstly, the undergoing, and experimental so far, reform of the upper secondary education sector, which attempts to unify the General with the Technical Vocational education. Secondly, the aspiration and efforts of the Government and people of Cyprus to join the European Union. This prospect creates the need of harmonising the Cyprus TVE with that of the EU countries, an issue that is also briefly addressed in this study.