General information - Cyprus

Education for children with special needs

As from September 2001, the Ministry of Education and Culture, has put into effect the Education and Training of Children with Special Needs Law 1999 [113(I)/1999], the Mechanisms for Early Detection of Children with Special Needs [185(I)2001] and the Regulations for Education and Training of Children with Special Needs [186(I)2001], which support the application of the Law. 

Children with special needs are educated in public schools, which are equipped with the suitable infrastructure, according to the Law for special education.  The majority of children with special educational needs are educated within the mainstream classroom. Special educational provision is also given in Special Units at mainstream schools. These children are assigned to a mainstream class where they can attend integrated lessons and participate in celebratory or festive events.

Children with severe difficulties are educated in special schools, which are equipped with the appropriate staff (psychologists, speech therapists, doctors, physiotherapists and other specialists as well as auxiliary staff) in order to support and provide essential means to achieve their mission.

The educational and other needs of children in Nursery Schools, Primary Schools, and Special Units in Primary Schools and in Special Schools are being met through programmes for Special Education. Teachers of various specialties (teachers for intellectual, sentimental and other problems, teachers for the deaf, the blind, special gymnastics, music therapy, work therapy, speech therapy, educational psychology, audiology and physiotherapy), work to support and meet the educational needs of children with special needs.  

The Ministry of Education and Culture aims at reinforcing the awareness and sensitivity of School Inspectors, School Principals, class teachers and teachers of Special Education on the providences of the Law and their obligations towards children with special needs attending their schools. This objective is achieved through in-service training seminars and personal contacts with people involved in the subject (Inspectors of Special Education, Educational Psychologists, joining officials and teachers of Special Education).