Cyprus plans to open or expand 30 kindergartens

The government of the Republic of Cyprus plans to open or expand 30 kindergartens across the country. Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Marilena Evangelou announced this.

According to the minister, the new or expanded kindergartens will also operate in the afternoon. Contracts have already been signed for the first two preschool educational institutions in Yeroskipou and Deryneia.

The new kindergartens are being built in accordance with the government's plan to expand the provision of free preschool education to all children over the age of four.

The bill allowing for such changes has already passed through the House of Representatives Committee on Education and must be brought to a vote in the plenary session of the House of Representatives.

Marilena Evangelou also noted the successful implementation of the government scheme for children over the age of four, under which 80 percent of tuition fees and school meals for private kindergartens are subsidized by the government.

In addition, from September, expenses for tuition and school meals will be fully covered for visitors to private kindergartens aged over four years and five months.

The modernization program also includes provisions for the resettlement of unaccompanied minors arriving in Cyprus as refugees.

Currently, a total of 190 children are in foster care programs in Cyprus. Another 290 live in semi-independent living arrangements with foster parents.