**Title: Cyprus Students Lag Behind EU Peers in Basic Skills, Report Finds**
A recent report from the European Union's Education and Training Monitor has revealed that students in Cyprus are falling behind their counterparts across Europe in essential skills, including basic, civic, and digital competencies. The findings underscore a broader concern regarding the quality of education in Cyprus, which may have implications for students' future career prospects and the nation's overall competitiveness.
The report highlights that a significant portion of Cypriot students are underperforming in key areas. Specifically, over half of the students, approximately 53.2 percent, did not meet the expected standards in mathematics, starkly contrasting with the EU average of 29.5 percent. This trend is particularly pronounced among students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, with 69.8 percent lacking basic proficiency in mathematics, compared to the EU average of 48 percent.
In addition to mathematics, the report indicates that advanced skills in reading, mathematics, and science are also lacking among Cypriot students. Only 1.4 percent of students demonstrated advanced reading skills, well below the EU average of 6.5 percent. Similarly, just 3.9 percent achieved advanced proficiency in mathematics, falling short of the EU average of 7.9 percent, while only 2 percent demonstrated advanced science skills compared to the EU average of 6.9 percent.
The report emphasizes the need for improved educational outcomes, recommending that Cyprus strengthen its evaluation culture to enhance the effectiveness of policy measures aimed at addressing these shortcomings.
Digital skills are another area where Cypriot students are lagging. The report reveals that 59 percent of eighth-graders do not possess basic digital skills, significantly higher than the EU average of 43 percent. This statistic places Cyprus far from the EU's 2030 goal of having only 15 percent of students lacking these skills.
In terms of civic knowledge, Cypriot students also scored below the EU average, achieving an average score of 459 compared to the EU's 511. Notably, girls generally outperformed boys in this area, reflecting a consistent trend observed in educational performance.
The report further points out that Cyprus has one of the lowest participation rates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects within the EU, with only 14.9 percent of students enrolled in these fields. This figure is significantly lower than the EU average of 26.9 percent and falls short of the proposed EU target of 32 percent by 2030. However, Cyprus does rank above the EU average in terms of women's participation in STEM, with 33.9 percent of female students enrolled compared to 32.2 percent across the bloc.
Despite these challenges, Cyprus boasts one of the highest rates of tertiary educational attainment in the EU. As of 2024, 60.1 percent of individuals aged 25-34 hold a tertiary degree, surpassing the EU average of 44.2 percent and the EU's 2030 target of 45 percent. The number of students enrolled in tertiary education has increased by 42 percent from 2015 to 2023, while the number of graduates has surged by 125 percent over the past decade, largely due to the establishment of private tertiary institutions and universities since 2007.
Moreover, Cyprus has a notably high level of outward degree mobility, with 26.9 percent of students studying abroad, compared to an EU average of just 4.4 percent. Inward degree mobility is on par with the EU average, with 9.2 percent of students obtaining their degrees from one of the twelve universities operating in the country. Overall, 27.8 percent of Cypriot students have studied abroad, reflecting a strong trend towards international education.
The EU's Education and Training Monitor serves as a critical tool for assessing member states' progress toward educational targets and provides insights into recent policy developments within the sector. As Cyprus grapples with the challenges highlighted in the report, stakeholders will need to prioritize educational reforms to ensure that students are equipped with the necessary skills for a competitive future.