A significant rise in the number of pupils leaving school early has been recorded in Cyprus in recent years, with 1,445 students abandoning their studies over a six-year period.
Of those, 963 were aged over 15 and 482 were under 15, with the trend showing a steady year-on-year increase. The figures were included in a parliamentary reply by Education Minister Athena Michaelidou to AKEL MP Andreas Pasiourtides.
In lower and upper secondary general education (gymnasiums and lyceums), the number of departures rose from 94 in the 2019–2020 school year to 259 in 2024–2025 — nearly three times higher.
In the previous academic year alone, a total of 345 pupils left general and technical secondary education.
Of the 1,445 students who left school over the six-year period, 1,193 were Cypriot nationals and 252 were foreign nationals.
From 94 To 259
According to the minister’s data, 94 pupils left general secondary education in 2019–2020. The number increased to 161 in 2020–2021, dipped slightly to 151 in 2021–2022, before jumping to 246 in 2022–2023. It remained high at 241 in 2023–2024 and climbed further to 259 in 2024–2025.
In gymnasiums, 69 pupils left in 2019–2020, including 47 under the age of 15. In lyceums, 25 departures were recorded that year, the vast majority involving students over 15.
By 2022–2023, departures at gymnasiums had surged to 162, including 116 pupils under 15. Lyceums recorded 84 departures that year.
In 2024–2025, gymnasium departures reached 185 (113 under 15), while lyceums recorded 74 cases, all involving pupils over 15.
Technical education
In secondary technical and vocational education and training, 30 students left in 2020–2021. The figure rose to 57 in 2021–2022 and 67 in 2022–2023, before falling to 53 in 2023–2024 and increasing again to 86 in 2024–2025.
Of the 86 students who left technical education in 2024–2025, 50 were Cypriots, 23 were EU citizens and 13 were third-country nationals.
Enrolments continue to increase
Despite the increase in dropouts, overall enrolments in general secondary education have shown a steady, moderate rise — from 40,077 pupils in 2019–2020 to 42,272 in 2024–2025.
Enrolment figures stood at 40,235 in 2020–2021, 40,804 in 2021–2022, 41,539 in 2022–2023 and 41,896 in 2023–2024.
European Commission findings
The data correspond with findings published last November by the European Commission in its Education and Training Monitor report.
According to the report, Cyprus’ early school leaving rate among 18–24-year-olds stands at 11.3 per cent, exceeding the EU average of around 9 per cent. Particularly concerning is that Cyprus has recorded the largest increase in early school leaving in the European Union over the past decade, with a rise of approximately 6.1 percentage points since 2015.
Commenting previously on the findings, Ms Michaelidou said the rate of early departure from education “remains elevated, particularly among young people with a migrant background”.
She noted that the issue is most pronounced among those aged 18–24, while before the age of 15 — when education is compulsory — only a small number of pupils leave school.
The minister stressed that the matter is being closely monitored by the Ministry of Education and that measures are being implemented as part of broader education policies to address the trend.
This article was originally published on the Greek-language Politis website.