"We are moving forward with the establishment of a Technical Gymnasium modeled after the Athletic and Music Gymnasiums," stated the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, on Thursday. He added that the Ministry of Labor, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, is working on effectively linking education with the labor market.

Speaking to journalists while attending the ceremony for the 8th National Skills Competition, SkillsCyprus 2024, at the State Fair, and asked about the importance of skills, particularly for young people, in light of the event, the President said, "Skills directly impact the competitiveness of the economy, not only in our country but also across Europe."

President Christodoulides referred to the recent report by former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, emphasizing the need for the EU to "move significantly faster" in the area of competitiveness, considering its primary competitors, the US and China.

He noted that the Ministry of Labor, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, is working on this issue of effectively connecting education with the labor market.

"That is why we are moving forward—for example—with the establishment of a Technical Gymnasium modeled after the Athletic and Music Gymnasiums, which are two successful institutions and fall within the framework I just mentioned," he pointed out.

He added that, within this framework, particular emphasis is placed on the development of skills and the need to transform education from a system focused solely on covering as much material as possible. "Instead, we aim to help our children develop their skills and critical thinking through education."