In 2023, 86.6% of children in Cyprus (68.0% in the EU) aged between 3 years and the minimum compulsory school age received formal childcare or education for at least 25 hours per week , while just 0.9% (21.1% in the EU) received formal childcare or education for 1 to 24 hours per week, according to data released by Eurostat, the statistical service of the EU.
At the same time, considering children at risk of poverty or social exclusion, 32.5% of children in such a situation aged between 3 years and the minimum compulsory school age in Cyprus (16.8% in the EU) did not participate in any formal childcare or education, compared with 8.0% of children not running this risk (9.0% in the EU).
It must be noted, however, that according to Eurostat, the data specifically concerning children at risk of poverty or social exclusion in Cyprus is considered unreliable.
Children faced with risk of poverty were also less likely to receive formal childcare or education for 25 hours or more (67.5 in Cyprus, 58.7% in the EU), compared with children not at risk (90.9 in Cyprus, 71.0% in the EU).
At the same time, children at risk of poverty had a higher likelihood (24.5%) of attending formal childcare and education from 1 to 24 hours than those not at risk of poverty or social exclusion (20.0%).
Data for Cyprus show that 0% of children in this age range running the risk of poverty attended formal childcare and education from 1 to 24 hours, compared with 1.1% of children not at risk.
Also read: Cyprus Parliament: more funding for Special Education needed
Source: CNA/YK/MK/2024
