21-07-16 Cyprus Education Minister Kadis holds talks with Filis, Anagnostopoulou

Education, Research and Religious Affairs Minister Nikos Filis and Alternate Minister Sia Anagnostopoulou met today with the Minister of Education of Cyprus, Costas Kadis, at the Greek Parliament.

On the agenda were issues pertaining to the 10,000 Cypriot students studying in Britain after the Brexit vote, as well as admission and transfers of Cypriot students to universities in Greece.

Filis said that Athens is closely following the education reforms in Cyprus and that there are elements that could be implemented in Greece as well. i

Addressing the issues of Brexit and of Cypriot university students, Filis noted, “We know that until now large numbers of Cypriot students went to the UK for cultural and economic reasons. Now, economic obstacles may arise. We want to solve any problems and remove any obstacles so as to facilitate Cypriot students who want to attend universities in Greece. This is our duty.”

Filis said that Cypriots studying in Greece should also have the same right to apply for transfer between universities as Greek citizens. For example, he said that if a Cypriot family has two children studying in Greece, they will want to have both studying in the same city.

“We cannot determine the economic criteria of Cypriots, but we can adopt rules that take into account economic need, the need to have two siblings studying in the same city [to reduce expenditures], and also health issues,” Filis said, noting that students who are admitted to Greek universities but doing their military service in the Cyprus National Guard should be offered a postponement of entry.

Filis said he supports offering Cypriot students the choice of whether to register at Greek universities either as EU citizens or under special admissions procedures for ethnic Greeks abroad, as long as the arrangement is in accord with EU law.

As to whether the responsibility of deciding on the distribution of Cypriot students at universities in Greece might be ceded to the Ministry of Education of Cyprus, Filis said the issue requires an analytic discussion

Regarding scholarships for Cypriot students, Filis appeared open to a cooperation between the Foundation of State Scholarships (IKY) and Greek universities in order to increase the number of available scholarships.

Filis said that a protocol of educational cooperation between Greece and Cyprus is in the final stage before the signing, and that the competent bureaus in the two ministries will cooperate so as to sign the agreement by the end of the year.

Cyprus’ Education and Culture Minister Kadis made the following statement:

“I am satisfied with all I have heard, because these are issues that have preoccupied Cypriot society for years.  There are issues with a human and social aspect. We absolutely agree on the need to maintain contacts between the two countries’ ministries, in a joint effort to improve our educational systems and our contribution to broader international issues. Meetings such as today’s should be institutionalised, so as to systematically follow up on the implementation of our joint decisions.”