According to the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the 2022 International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS), there's a noticeable downward trend in the performance of Cypriot students in mathematics, natural sciences, and text comprehension.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Athina Michaelidou, the Minister of Education, Sports, and Youth, emphasized the urgent need for a re-organization and improvement of Cyprus' education system. She highlighted the necessity for structural changes to enhance educational outcomes over time.

Specific measures are already being implemented, and further strategies are in the pipeline, aligning with the government's broader educational program.

The PISA 2022 survey revealed that the average scores of Cypriot students were 418 in Mathematics, 411 in Natural Sciences, and 381 in text comprehension. These scores are statistically lower than the European Union averages in these subjects.

Furthermore, the ICCS 2022 survey indicated an average score of 459 in civic education and citizenship among Cypriot students, significantly trailing the international average.

Minister Michaelidou expressed dissatisfaction with these results, noting that Cyprus lags considerably behind other European countries in these areas.

She identified a key issue in the education system: its focus on knowledge dissemination rather than skill and capability development.

To address these challenges, the Minister outlined a series of reform measures. These include revising syllabuses, adopting new teaching approaches, implementing modern evaluation systems for teachers and students, introducing early prevention programs, digitizing education, and integrating innovative programs and critical thinking emphasis.