Cyprus-Forum.com

[argyll30]

Hi, Moving to cypsrus on the 2nd August 2005 and we have 2 kids. We know it is expensive to send kids to the british schools. However we were told from someone that you can actually send your kids to a cypriot school and it is not as expensive, and the kids pick up the language very very quickly. Could someone please help and give us some info as i do not know if this is possible. I have tried to find out on the net but keep hitting brick walls.

I also want to start up a business when i am over there. can anyone tell me if you still have to get a work permit now that they are in he eu or can anyone work there.

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sk]

if with cypriot school u mean public shcool then it is almost free.i would recommend though to contact the ministry of education directly and let them know that u intend to enroll your children in a public school since they have the final say to which school your children will go( depends where u live since schools can be very close in cyprus,it even depends at which site of a main street u live!!!).how old r ur children?

[argyll30]

My kids are aged 5yrs and 9 yrs old but they cannot speak any greek at all, would it be recommended to enrol them in a school without the basic knowledge of the greek language. I was told that it would be hard for them for the first few weeks but they would soon beable to converse with the other children and that it makes them learn the language a lot quicker.

Moving to Frenaros first, will most probably be there for around 6 months then wish to end up in either Limassol or Larnaca area.

Can you Help

Thanks

[Graeme]

hi
although i cant help you i also am moving to cyprus soon (prob sept) and have kids 10 and 12 years. i would prefer them to go to a local school but have the same language problems as yourself and dont want my kids to suffer unnecessarily. i would appreciate it if you would let me have any info you obtain and i will do the same likewise. i will be looking into private schooling in the next week or two to see if it is viable. PM me if you prefer.

[argyll30]

Hi There,

I have looked into privet schools and the prices depend on age group of kids. Prices that i have found generally start from around £1500 to £2000 per year per child, I know that you will recieve a discount if your kids attend the same school and your yearly payment for each child is paid in full at the beginning of the year. I also know that you can also pay in installments, that is so much will be paid at the start of the first term another installment to be paid at the start of the second term and so on.

I know this because i was over in cyprus last March on a holiday purely to find out about the schooling and they gave me a pack with all information about the school and its prices. Prices vary for different schools.

I did'nt know at the time that it may be possible to send the kids to a cypriot school, i only heard this within the last couple of months from friends of the family who live there. They say they were talking to someone who has placed their kids in public school and think that it was the best thing they could have done as the kids picked up the lingo within a few weeks and now talk and communicate fluently with the other kids in the school. I was also told that the cost was minimal but i just could not find any info on the net to say whether it was true or not


hope this helps you

[Spartan King]

Guys, you can send them to non private Greek language school, where they will receieve a free education, but they will ahve to overcome the language barrier. It will not take that long, but it will require a lot of dedication.

Otherwise, you can send them to English language private schools, (depending on your proximity). The private schools, cost about £2000 a year per pupil, but the quality is very high- i.e. American Academy, which in the UK would set you back close to £20,000 a year.

That said, education in Cyprus (local or private) is probably of a tougher standard than the UK. I have a friend who teached IT in a secondary school, and he is teaching 14-16 year olds at the level that he was when he was completing his computer degree.

Also subjects like maths and science are very advanced too.

[sk]

if your children are 5 and 9 i dont think they will have a problem learning the language......my best friend is a teacher in a secondary school and had many foreign students (iranians etc).he said that children usually need about 6-7 months and then they can speak the language in an almost equal level with native speakers.i does require though some help from the teachers ,not to be very demanding from these children and give them time to adjust.if u go and talk with the teachers personally i think it will be very good

[argyll30]

I would just like to say thankyou to everyone who has left a message on this forum as it has been a very big help. Thankyou to all for taking the time to write in


THANKYOU!

[mark2604]

Hi

Our 5 year old daughter attends the American Academy in Larnaca and i would highly recommend it.

English language & English curriculum.

The fees are very cheap compared to the UK.

We moved here Sept 2004 and have absoloutly no regrets.

If you can afford it id certainly send them there.

Regards, Mark

[Hazza]

I have 1 niece who goes to the American Academy and 2 nieces that go to Med High, both in Larnaca. From what I have seen, and from what my sister has been telling me, the standard of education is so much higher in the American Academy. She is planning of moving the other 2 to the American Academy next year.

The 9 year old will fall behind on education but will be able to catch up. The 5 year old won't be a problem.

A little tip which WILL help your children. Don't let them watch much English on television through satellite/cable. Instead, let them watch the crappy Greek channels which will help them pick up the language!