The teaching profession is being derailed

[Paphos Life]

I CAME to realise that teaching is being derailed when I asked a 40-year old teacher, I have a lot of respect for, why the teachers were striking. Her response was disarmingly honest. She said: ???I do not know???....

Read the article and chat about it below...

[Dominic]

I agree. The situation in state schools here is a joke. Some of the highest paid teachers in the EU produce some of the worst results. They are failing the children and in so doing, failing Cyprus itself.

If results were way up people would respect them and take notice, but this current situation is farcical.

[cyprusmax47]

What is worse in my opinion than what was mentioned in the article: there are many teacher (male and female) at Cyprus state schools telling pupils, as little as 6 years old, that everything bad comes from Turkey. It can be weather, food, diseases and much more. When the young generation is told at school this nonsense, how will this same generation later will come to a good solution with the North when they were poisoned in young age.
When their teaching abilities are limited being very biased fanatics when it comes to the matter of partition and 74' invasion, no wonder where we stand after 44 years of separation.

Max

[Kili01]

There are many things wrong with the teaching and the teaching staff in the state schools. One thing which is wrong is the teachers insistance that people be given teaching jobs solely on the basis of the length of time they have been on the ‘waiting list’. Thus new blood in the shape of younger qualified teachers with new ideas are prevented from working in the state schools until they in turn are middle aged and possibly have been employed in other fields rather than as school teachers for years.
Dee

[Jimgward]

Having taught for 8 years in the U.K. and then being an advisor, I know that yo8ng teachers offer a refreshing type of approach to teaching and combined with the skills and experiences of older staff, create the best environments. In the U.K., you need a degree plus a teaching qualification and practice beyond the degree. Then you a free to apply for any teaching job and chosen on merit. In Cyprus, the lack of 20something year olds means you are exposing children to non-qualified and perhaps wrongly-skilled staff.

[josef k]

I agree with the comments regarding the standards of teachers in Cyprus. many of those same teachers run (illegal) afternoon teaching sessions for cash, to compensate for the poor education given in the mornings.

Another problem with pre-university education in Cyprus is the position of the church. The archbishop has the power to veto anyone for the job of education minister, and has to approve all history books. Given their extreme views on the Cyprus problem, you can see what results from this power.

For education to gain any respectability in Cyprus, teachers need to be appointed on merit and subject to regular assessment (preferably salary-affecting). Also the church needs to be kicked out of education completely.

[smudger]

I knew when I came here 12 years ago that there were huge problems within the education system, but at that time it was of no real concern to me. Confusius says 'if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans" sure enough, I was gifted the upbringing of my granddaughter and so became embroiled in the Cypriot education system.

She attends ISOP so to some extent is shielded from the union problems, but she has come up against many of the situations already highlighted. She has been party to the influence of teachers re the history of Paphos, of Makarios and of Cyprus as a whole. I have always found this incredibly sad and divisive, but unfortunately I have no control over it.

I do find it disappointing that the educaters are unable to divorce themselves from their particular viewpoints of the history of the island and reach reality and fact. Heigh ho, I guess I can dream!

[Kili01]

New one on me too? Perhaps Lloyd could explain what he means......

Dee

[WHL]

I agree with the comments regarding the standards of teachers in Cyprus. many of those same teachers run (illegal) afternoon teaching sessions for cash, to compensate for the poor education given in the mornings.

Another problem with pre-university education in Cyprus is the position of the church. The archbishop has the power to veto anyone for the job of education minister, and has to approve all history books. Given their extreme views on the Cyprus problem, you can see what results from this power.

For education to gain any respectability in Cyprus, teachers need to be appointed on merit and subject to regular assessment (preferably salary-affecting). Also the church needs to be kicked out of education completely.

could you put a link or something to back up your claims,,,never heard of this before, thanks.

[WHL]

Sorry, Don't agree. A GREAT future lies ahead for Cyprus! In fact, the country is doing well as it is right now. The credit rating upgrade Cyprus received last week shows other parties have faith in the country too. One or two small niggles in the way a country conducts itself is not good reason to diss the country and claim it has no hope for the future.

When I was in London last week and mentioned to various people in conversation that wife and I live in Cyprus, there was not one person who did not express envy and say they would love to swap places. There is no such place as Nirvana, but Cyprus ticks a helluva lot of boxes for me.

Agree HIC theres a couple of people on here, that never have a good word to say about the people or place, in fact more fool them for living somewhere they obviously hate...I would be on the next plane out of this Hell hole if I had their views.

[cyprusmax47]

[quote="Happy in Cyprus" post_id=69582 time=1537444749 user_id=378]
Spin it as much as you like Hudswell, this topic has nothing to do with reunification.

This topic has very much to do with reunification Lloyd, Perhaps you read my earlier post on here...

Max

[WHL]

Oh come on HiC, no spin intended and I think from my comment and in the context of other posts on this thread, which you have obviously skipped over, my comment was justified and clearly had nothing to do do with economic recovery, which I know is a hobby horse of yours. And yes when the authorities in this country, and in that I include the teachers stop twisting the past then perhaps it's future generations will be able to make informed decisions about the future. But as always your opinion is the one that counts supported by your attack pooch of course.

You have made it perfectly clear,what you think about Cypriots/Cyprus, just a shame you dont have the Cojones, to stand by what you post, and spin like a top.when someone picks you up on it, ...

[josef k]

I agree with the comments regarding the standards of teachers in Cyprus. many of those same teachers run (illegal) afternoon teaching sessions for cash, to compensate for the poor education given in the mornings.

Another problem with pre-university education in Cyprus is the position of the church. The archbishop has the power to veto anyone for the job of education minister, and has to approve all history books. Given their extreme views on the Cyprus problem, you can see what results from this power.

For education to gain any respectability in Cyprus, teachers need to be appointed on merit and subject to regular assessment (preferably salary-affecting). Also the church needs to be kicked out of education completely.

could you put a link or something to back up your claims,,,never heard of this before, thanks.

I haven't a link I'm afraid, but these issues are regularly reported in the Cyprus Mail, particularly when a new education minister is being identified and new school books are being chosen/written. I think other forum members can back me up on that.

[WHL]

I agree with the comments regarding the standards of teachers in Cyprus. many of those same teachers run (illegal) afternoon teaching sessions for cash, to compensate for the poor education given in the mornings.

Another problem with pre-university education in Cyprus is the position of the church. The archbishop has the power to veto anyone for the job of education minister, and has to approve all history books. Given their extreme views on the Cyprus problem, you can see what results from this power.

For education to gain any respectability in Cyprus, teachers need to be appointed on merit and subject to regular assessment (preferably salary-affecting). Also the church needs to be kicked out of education completely.

could you put a link or something to back up your claims,,,never heard of this before, thanks.

I haven't a link I'm afraid, but these issues are regularly reported in the Cyprus Mail, particularly when a new education minister is being identified and new school books are being chosen/written. I think other forum members can back me up on that.

So just hear say then...as for the books your wrong im afraid, the Cyprus education system mirrors Greece's education system, and the Cyprus school books come from Greece.

[Dominic]

That was a cheerful read (the first link).

This caught my eye though:
________________

When asked what needs to be done to better science education, Nikolas answer was immediate. “Smaller study groups and more time for physics classes. For example, four group of six can be more effectively taught than a class of twenty-four and if we had more time allotted we could do much better,” he said.
________________

If they are talking 18 year olds then that may be achievable. If they are talking 16 year olds then I think it's pie in the sky to expect that level off class size.

[WHL]

The books are not based... but printed and sent from Greece, the exact books they use in Greek schools ... the rest is hear say, you obviously believe everything you read in the press, I get my info from a Cypriot neighbor a friend of my wife's, , she has been a teacher at a school for many years, she is neither a Greek lover or a Turk hater, and we have discussed this subject many time......thanks for all the time you eagerly spend googling, but Id rather believe her...cheers.

[WHL]

Of course she is a Greek Cypriot Teacher, what not to trust considering the current state of Cypriot education.

She is not like you, she is an educated, moderate, modern thinking person... who hasnt been brain washed...

[Kili01]

Nothing has been published to indicate that the school text books have been re written and the Cyprus Church from the Arch Bishop downwards has a big ( perhaps too big ) say in the school curiculum. The church here is and has been implacably opposed to any settlement as this would affect its powerful presence in both the political and educational spheres.
Your friend, WHL may perhaps be slightly biased in her opinions...

Dee