President Nikos Christodoulides stressed the need for closer links between education and the labour market and for stronger career guidance in schools during a meeting on Monday with the top-performing students in the Pancyprian Examinations. He also said Cyprus needs Cypriot talent and referred to government incentives encouraging Cypriots working abroad to return.
President Christodoulides met with the students at the Presidential Palace in the afternoon, in the presence of Education, Sport and Youth Minister Athena Michaelidou. He discussed their study choices with them and asked whether career guidance at school had helped them make their decisions.
Congratulating the students and their families, who supported them throughout their studies, the President said Cyprus is among the EU countries with the highest proportion of secondary and technical school graduates choosing to pursue university studies.
“We want these young people to return to Cyprus to work and not remain abroad. We need Cypriot talent,” he said, adding that the country’s greatest strength is its human capital.
He said the Government offers incentives to encourage Cypriots living and working abroad to return, expressing satisfaction that many are choosing to do so.
President Christodoulides also referred to highly qualified foreign professionals working in Cyprus, some of whom receive very high salaries. Citing Limassol as an example, he said their earnings allow them to pay higher rents, adding to housing pressures in the city. He noted, however, that the issue is not confined to Limassol but affects all districts.
He clarified that the Government does not want to discourage foreign professionals from coming to work in Cyprus but also wants Cypriots to fill such positions.
The President said Cyprus needs to identify the skills and occupations for which there is demand. To this end, he added, the Government has been working with the Education Ministry since its first year in office to strengthen career guidance in schools.
“We must link our education system to the needs of the labour market,” he said. President Christodoulides referred to the need to encourage doctors, where possible, to complete their specialist training in Cyprus, as well as to promote studies in information technology, mathematics and other fields in which the country needs qualified professionals.
During the meeting, parents asked the President to consider providing a grant to the top-performing students. They noted that the students receive awards from their schools but no other financial support in recognition of their academic performance, apart from scholarships granted to some on the basis of financial criteria.
President Christodoulides said he would discuss the request with the Education Minister and promised to try to ensure that such a grant is awarded to the top-performing students starting this year.
