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- Some districts now have no available places for new students.
- Elias Markatzis said years of investment in programmes, equipment and labour-market links made technical schools highly attractive.
- Nicosia’s two main technical schools are full, with all study programmes fully subscribed.
- The Ministry of Education is expanding technical schools, including new facilities planned for Limassol, Aradippou and Alambra.
Demand for technical schools in Cyprus has risen sharply following major improvements to vocational education, with some districts now having no available places for new students.
Speaking on Sigma TV’s Protoselido, Director of Secondary Technical and Vocational Education and Training Elias Markatzis said years of investment in study programmes, equipment and links with the labour market have transformed technical schools into a highly attractive option for students and parents.
He said the increased demand had been anticipated and warned that competition for admission would continue to grow unless additional schools are built.
New schools planned
Markatzis said the Ministry of Education is expanding the network of technical schools across Cyprus.
A new state-of-the-art technical school is expected to be completed in Limassol next year, while another will be built in Aradippou, Larnaca. The new Larnaca school will also serve nearby areas in the Nicosia district due to its accessibility.
Plans are also progressing for a new technical school in Alambra, south of Nicosia.
Nicosia under greatest pressure
Markatzis said Nicosia is facing the biggest capacity challenge.
The capital’s two main technical schools have filled every available place, with all study programmes fully subscribed and no capacity to accept additional students.
By contrast, some places remain available in Limassol, while enrolment in Paphos has been completed without major difficulties despite isolated complaints from parents. Larnaca is also not facing capacity issues, particularly with the new technical school planned for the district.
He stressed that the proposed school in south Nicosia is a priority to meet growing demand in the coming years.
Technical Gymnasium expected to boost interest
Commenting on the expansion of the Technical Gymnasium programme, Markatzis said it was too early to link it directly to this year’s increase in demand.
However, he believes the programme will encourage even more students to choose technical education in the future.
The Technical Gymnasium introduces students from the first year of lower secondary school to practical skills, engineering, robotics and modern technologies, helping them develop valuable abilities from an early age.
Markatzis added that the programme benefits not only students who later attend technical schools but also those who continue to general secondary education, as the skills gained are valuable for a wide range of careers and university studies, including science and engineering.
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