The Agency organised four online meetings in June 2020 as part of the European Union’s Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP) Cyprus Phase 2 activities.
The aim of these meetings was twofold: to keep the momentum of the activities in Cyprus in light of the COVID-19 organisational challenges, and to inform the on-going analysis which will lead to the development of recommendations.
In the first meeting on 23 June, the Agency team and the Steering Committee of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth discussed the final aspects of the resource analysis. This analysis maps the existing resources of the Cypriot system and proposes recommendations for a more efficient use of resources.
Three online Working Group meetings also took place on 24, 25 and 26 June with different Cypriot stakeholder groups. Representatives included education professionals, parent and student groups, representatives from universities, and key policy‑makers from the Ministry, among others.
Each Working Group was dedicated to a specific thematic area of inclusive education:
- Types of educational provision and support, leadership and teaching strategies;
- Assessment and support procedures, focusing on learners, teachers, leaders and learning environments;
- The role of resource centres.
The stakeholder consultation provided feedback on key issues that will underpin the new legislation on inclusive education. These issues will be further elaborated in future meetings. Analysis of the discussions with the stakeholders will be used to formulate the recommendations and regulations that will accompany the new legislation.