Tag Archives: Cyprus

According to collegesanduniversitiesinusa, Cyprus has a long and rich history of education. The first schools in the country were established during the Byzantine period and continued to develop during the Ottoman period. During this time, education was mainly based on religious and moral teachings, with only a few schools offering secular education. In 1878, when Cyprus became an English colony, the British introduced a more modern system of education which included primary, secondary and higher levels of education. After Cyprus gained independence in 1960, the government implemented an educational system based on the British model with some modifications to suit local needs. Primary and secondary schools are now free for all students and provide compulsory education up to the age of 15. Higher level educational institutions include universities, technical colleges and professional institutes which offer degree programs in a variety of fields such as engineering, medicine, law and business administration. Additionally, there are many private institutions offering higher level degrees as well as vocational training for students looking for specialized skills or qualifications. In 2009, the geopolitics of Cyprus were in a state of flux. After a period of stalemate between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, the two sides had finally agreed to enter into negotiations for reunification. The UN-sponsored talks were aimed at creating a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation that would ensure equal rights and representation for both communities. However, despite the progress made at the negotiating table, there were still significant divisions between the two communities. In addition to the political tensions between Greece and Turkey over Cyprus, there were also economic issues that needed to be addressed in order for a settlement to be reached. The Greek Cypriot economy was significantly more advanced than that of its Turkish counterpart and this disparity presented a major obstacle for any potential agreement. Furthermore, Greece’s refusal to accept Turkey’s membership in the EU further complicated matters as it made it difficult for both sides to find common ground on issues such as trade and investment. As such, while some progress had been made in 2009 towards finding a resolution to the decades-long conflict on Cyprus, much work still remained to be done before any lasting peace could be achieved. Check internetsailors for Cyprus in 2011.