Over a six-year period, 1,445 students left school. Of these, 963 were over the age of 15 and 482 were under 15, with the trend showing a steady upward trajectory year after year.
Indicatively, in lower and upper secondary general education (gymnasiums and lyceums), 94 student departures were recorded in the 2019–2020 school year, while in 2024–2025 that number rose to 259. In the last school year alone, departures from general and technical secondary education reached 345 students.
Another noteworthy element is that of the 1,445 students, 1,193 are Cypriot nationals and 252 are foreign nationals. The above data are included in a response by Minister of Education Athena Michaelidou to a parliamentary question submitted by AKEL MP Andreas Pasiourtides.
From 94 to 259
According to the Minister’s response, during the 2019–2020 school year a total of 94 departures were recorded in general secondary education. The number increased to 161 in 2020–2021, decreased slightly to 151 in 2021–2022, then rose sharply to 246 in 2022–2023 and remained high at 241 in 2023–2024. The upward trend continues in 2024–2025, with 259 student departures recorded, almost triple the figure of 2019–2020.
In gymnasiums during 2019–2020, 69 students left school, 47 under the age of 15 and 22 over 15. In lyceums that same year, 25 departures were recorded, with one case involving a student under 15 and 24 over 15. The total departures for that year reached 94, of which eight concerned foreign students.
In 2020–2021, gymnasium departures rose to 93, with 39 students under 15. Lyceums recorded 68 departures, including 14 students under 15 and 54 over 15. The total reached 161, while 18 of the departures concerned foreign students.
In 2021–2022, gymnasiums recorded 91 departures (52 under 15), while lyceums recorded 60 departures, all involving students over 15. The total reached 151, with nine foreign students included.
The 2022–2023 school year showed a sharp increase. Gymnasiums recorded 162 departures, 116 under 15 and 46 over 15. Lyceums recorded 84 departures, including seven under 15. In total, 246 students left general secondary education, with 27 foreign students among them.
In 2023–2024, gymnasiums recorded 160 departures (88 under 15), while lyceums recorded 81 (five under 15). The total reached 241, with 51 cases involving foreign students.
Finally, in 2024–2025, gymnasium departures rose to 185 (113 under 15), while lyceums recorded 74 departures, all involving students over 15. In total, 259 students left general secondary education, including 30 foreign students.
Technical Education
In secondary technical and vocational education and training, 30 departures were recorded in 2020–2021, of which 20 concerned Cypriot nationals, seven citizens of EU Member States and three third-country nationals.
In 2021–2022, departures increased to 57 (39 Cypriots, 13 EU citizens and five third-country nationals), while in 2022–2023 they rose to 67 (40 Cypriots, 19 EU citizens and eight third-country nationals). In 2023–2024, 53 departures were recorded (35 Cypriots, 12 EU citizens and six third-country nationals). In 2024–2025, the number increased again to 86 departures, of which 50 concerned Cypriot students, 23 EU citizens and 13 third-country nationals.
Enrolments
The data submitted to Parliament by the Minister of Education also include enrolment figures in general secondary education for the same period. The total number of enrolled students in gymnasiums and lyceums shows a steady, moderate increase over recent years, from 40,077 in 2019–2020 to 42,272 in 2024–2025. Enrolments stood at 40,235 in 2020–2021, 40,804 in 2021–2022, 41,539 in 2022–2023 and 41,896 in 2023–2024.
Findings Of The European Commission
These data are directly linked to findings recorded last November by the European Commission in its Education and Training Monitor. According to the report, the early school leaving rate in Cyprus stands at 11.3 per cent for ages 18–24, exceeding the European Union average of around 9 per cent.
Particular concern arises from the fact that Cyprus has recorded the largest increase in early school leaving in the European Union over the past decade, with an increase of approximately 6.1 per cent since 2015.
Commenting last November in Politis, Minister of Education Athena Michaelidou stated that, according to the Commission’s findings, “the rate of early school leaving remains elevated, particularly among young people with a migrant background”. She noted that “the problem is mainly observed in the 18–24 age group, while before the age of 15, when education is compulsory, very few students leave school”.
She stressed, however, that the issue is closely monitored by the Ministry of Education and that measures are being taken within the framework of broader educational policies.