Teacher training - basic and specialist teacher training - Cyprus

Mainstream teachers fall into 2 broad categories:

1. Elementary school teachers follow a 4-year university based general teacher-training course and can then be employed as elementary school teachers.
2. Teachers of special education who can be employed to provide services to children within mainstream elementary schools, special units attached to mainstream schools or in special schools have specific job descriptions.

At present special education teachers are classified as specializing in:

• Teaching children with specific learning, functional, adjustment difficulties
• Teaching children with visual impairments
• Teaching children with hearing impairment
• Speech therapy
• Psychology
• Physiotherapy
• Special physical education
• Music therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Audiology.

Preparatory service

Secondary school teachers must complete a university degree in a specific curriculum topic and, upon employment, must further complete a pre-service training programme offered by the University of Cyprus - a short seminar course on pedagogy.
In secondary education, regular subject teachers provide support for children with special needs. A programme of seminars regarding special education is being developed to assist them in this task.

In-Service Training

All teachers are encouraged to attend courses of professional development run by the Pedagogical Institute of Cyprus, many of which have particular reference to special education. Attendance at in service seminars is compulsory whilst attendance at local seminars is encouraged. The Ministry of Education and Culture will sponsor the attendance of teachers on courses abroad or give leave of absence to teachers wishing to sponsor themselves. Attendance at courses of continuing professional development is considered in the determining of a teachers performance during teacher evaluation.