A new Applied Learning track will be piloted at six lyceums across Cyprus from September as part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan.
The new 5B pathway has been developed by the Directorate of Secondary General Education of the Ministry of Education to provide students with practical knowledge and skills aligned with labour market needs.
The six schools taking part are:
- Idalion Lyceum
- Lanitio Lyceum
- Livadia Lyceum
- Lefkara Lyceum
- Paralimni Lyceum
- Archbishop Makarios III Lyceum A in Paphos
Focus on practical skills and employment
According to Acting Director of Secondary Education Giorgos Koutsidis, the Applied Learning track is a new educational pathway within the existing fifth track, Commerce and Services.
It is aimed mainly at students who want to enter employment directly after graduating from lyceum, those seeking a more practical form of learning in their area of interest, and students with a migrant background.
The programme will also maintain students’ access to higher education if they choose to continue their studies.
The initiative aims to strengthen experiential learning, reduce early school leaving and student stagnation at lyceum level, and better align education with the needs of the modern labour market.
The action was implemented under Milestone 239a of Reform C5.1R1 of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, with a budget of €189,400.
Six new subjects introduced
For the new Applied Learning track to be introduced, 12 new curricula and educational materials were developed for six subjects to be taught in both the second and third years of lyceum.
The subjects are:
- Office Management and Organisation
- Applied Information Technology
- Commerce, Marketing and Sales Techniques
- Life and Health Education
- Green Transition and Applied Biology
- Technology and Applied Skills
The selection of subjects was based on studies by the Human Resource Development Authority on the needs of the Cyprus labour market, as well as European skills forecasts from Cedefop and EURES and the European Labour Authority.
Training linked to jobs in demand
The new subjects are designed to address labour market needs in areas including commerce, services, transport, storage, sales and administrative support.
Students will develop skills applicable to positions such as office administration and organisation, customer service, sales and commercial support, warehouse and inventory management, food sales and marketing, social media and multimedia support, advertising, and automation management in commerce and office services.
The curriculum also covers areas such as environmental management and compliance, technological equipment maintenance, technology equipment procurement and evaluation, green office practices, energy saving and renewable energy.
Pilot programme to be monitored
Students in the first year of lyceum were informed about the new track and its subjects during the 2025-2026 school year by career guidance teachers.
Schools also recorded students’ choices for the new subjects, providing data on expected participation at each school.
The implementation of the 5B pathway will take place gradually, with continuous monitoring and the possibility of corrective measures.
Two-week activities to connect students with work
Targeted activities have also been designed for second- and third-year lyceum students. They will last two weeks per school year and aim to strengthen the connection between education and the world of work through the new subjects.
Teachers who will teach the new courses have also received training, both online and in person, in Nicosia and Limassol.
The training involved teachers specialising in Economics and Commerce, Information Technology, Health Education, Biology, and Design and Technology.
Career guidance teachers have also been trained on the philosophy, structure and content of the new programme so they can advise and support students in choosing the Applied Learning track according to their interests, skills and career prospects.
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