Educational Centre / Institute – Private

Permission to establish and operate a Private Institute / Private Educational Centre in the Republic Cyprus can be given to natural or legal persons of Cypriot nationality or citizens of other member states of the EU.

The application form “YΠΑΝ ΙΕΦ 01” for the establishment and operation of a Private Institute / Private Educational Centre along with the forms “YΠΑΝ ΙΕΦ 02” (Personal Details Information Sheet of the Teaching Staff) and “YΠΑΝ ΙΕΦ 05”  (Summary statement for the teaching staff of the Private Institute / Private Educational Centre (see Applications & Documents) can be submitted either to the PSC Cyprus or directly to the Competent Authority:

By post:

Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth
Department of Secondary Education
Private Institutes Office
Kimonos and Thoukydides Corner
1434 Nicosia
Tel.: +357 22806356 (Private Secondary Education)
Fax : +357 22809537 (Private Secondary Education)
Email: dme-idiotiki-ekp@schools.ac.cy (Private Secondary Education)
Website: http://www.moec.gov.cy

By courier:

Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth
Building A’, 2nd floor, Office 209
Tel.: +357 22806356 (Private Secondary Education)
Fax : +357 22809537 (Private Secondary Education)
Email: dme-idiotiki-ekp@schools.ac.cy (Private Secondary Education)
Website: http://www.moec.gov.cy

1. Premises
   Finding a suitable building must be a primary goal:

   • It is necessary to obtain a planning permit from the Headquarters of the Department of Town Planning and Housing as provided by the Town Planning and Spatial Planning Law;
   • It is also necessary to submit a building permit and a final approval certificate (or the application for obtaining a final approval certificate, applicable in the case of erection of a new building) stating that the building will be used as a Private Institute / Private Educational Centre from the local Municipality / District Administration Office, as provided by the Regulating Streets and Buildings Law, Cap. 96;
   • A Fire Safety Certificate from the Cyprus Fire Service is also compulsory;
   • The premises should be suitably furnished and properly equipped including the appropriate teaching aids for the proper functioning of a Private Institute / Private Educational Centre.

   Teaching Staff of the Private Institute / Private Educational Centre

   It is compulsory to hire a qualified headmaster/headmistress as well as teachers. Every member of the teaching staff should hold a recognized University degree/ on the specific subject they will be appointed to teach. Every member of the faculty of the Private Institute / Private Educational Centre must complete a personal record form (form “YΠΑΝ ΙΕΦ 02”).

   Members of the teaching staff of the Private Institute / Private Educational Centre who are not registered in the lists of the Educational Service Committee must provide  the following documents along with the form “YΠΑΝ ΙΕΦ 02” :

   Officially certified photocopies:

   • Birth Certificate;
   • Secondary School Leaving Certificate or equivalent;
   • University Degree and or Post-Graduate Degree and their Transcript/s;
   • Certificate of fulfillment of military obligations /or legal exemption from them (for men);
   • Certificate of Equivalence of their degree by Cyprus Council for the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications (KY.S.A.T.S.)  which refers to the specialty that they wish to teach.

   Original copies: 

   • updated original copy of a Clear Criminal Record Certificate (by the Cyprus Police);
   • updated original copy of a Certificate issued by the Cyprus Police in accordance with the Prevention and Fight against Sexual Abuse, Sexual Exploitation of Children and Child Pornography Act.

   If a teacher’s name is included in the list of appointees of the Educational Service Committee, he/she must only provide the following:

   Photocopies:

   • Birth Certificate;
   • Secondary School Leaving Certificate or equivalent;
   • University Degree and or Post-Graduate Degree and their Transcript/s;
   • Certificate of fulfillment of military obligations /or legal exemption from them (for men);

   Original copies: 

   • updated original copy of a Clear Criminal Record Certificate (by the Cyprus Police);
   • updated original copy of a Certificate issued by the Cyprus Police in accordance with the Prevention and Fight against Sexual Abuse, Sexual Exploitation of Children and Child Pornography Act.

There are no fees for submission of applications or for the issuance of the Operation License to be issued.

Administrative Action Against a Competent Authority’s Decision

Any person may file an Administrative Action at the Administrative court against a decision, act or omission of any competent authority or body.

Pursuant to Article 146 of the Constitution, an Administrative Action may be lodged within 75 days from the date of the decision or act or omission or from the day when such decision or act or omission was notified to the applicant.

The Administrative Court acts as a cassation Court and not as a substantive Court. In other words, the Administrative Court may:
I. Dismiss the Administrative Action
II. Annul wholly or partially the contested decision or act
III. Compel the relevant authority or body to take a certain action

After a decision is annulled, the authority and/or public body must reverse things back to the state prior to when the concerned decision and/or act was executed and reexamine.

Appeal Information

An Appeal may be filed against the Administrative Court’s first-instance decision within a period of 42 days from the date such decision was given.

At the Supreme Court (Court of Appeal Section) hearing, the contested issue of the appeal remains the legality of the decision or act already adjudicated for. However, such revision of the legality of the decision or act is solely examined on the matters and the extent that the two parties have limited the reasons in the relevant notice of appeal.

The decision adopted by the Supreme Court is considered final in relation to the matter that has been judged.

• The Establishment and Operation of Private Institutes and Other Related Matters Law of 2018 (117(I)/2018)
  

Private Institute / Private Educational Centre are obliged to comply with the provisions of the Private Institutes Law and Regulations, as periodically amended or replaced, and specifically, among others, with the following:

Curriculum Programme

The curriculum programmes of the new courses and/or any changes to the existing courses approved curriculum programmes including the following must be submitted for approval and must include the following:

• Aims and Objectives (in relation to the age-group of students which is addressed to);
• Coursebooks;
• Content / Syllabus of the studies programme;
• Duration – Teaching Periods per unit on a weekly basis;
• Methodology;
• Ways of Assessment (i.e. final examination, projects).

In case the curriculum programme of the course(s) to be taught at the Private Institute / Private Educational Centre is the same as the one taught in public schools, it is sufficient for the applicant to submit a written signed declaration stating that is bound to implement the curriculum programme of the course in question as defined by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth.

Foreign languages curriculum programme criteria:

1. General aim and objectives of the curriculum based on the age of the students;
2. Coursebooks;
3. Content / Syllabus of the studies programme (according to the level and skill scales of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) of the Council of Europe);
4. Duration – Teaching periods per year/per week and by unit;
5. Methodologies:
   • Targeted skills/abilities (language and communicative skills according to the level and skill scales of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) of the Council of Europe;
   • teaching approach and activities.
6. Ways of Assessment (i.e. final examination, projects).

Timetable

The timetable per course and/or per class must be submitted.

Student fees

The owner must submit, for approval, to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth, the amounts payable for tuition fees, fees and other rights of the Private Institute / Private Educational Centre.

Keeping the following records

Samples of the following files must be submitted for approval:

• List of students;
• Certificates or Certificates of Attendance / Participation;
• Register of Teaching Staff;
• Teaching Staff salary statement;
• Numbered duplicate of receipts of tuition fees, fees and/or other rights bearing the name of the Private Institute / Private Educational Centre (as regards the register and salary statement of the teaching staff, there is no need to be sent if the owner is both a director and the only teaching staff).

Keeping duplicated numbered receipts

Such receipts should be printed at a printing press and must bear the name of the Private Institute / Private Educational Centre, as it is compulsory to give out a receipt for each collection of fees or other rights.

Photos of Private Institute / Private Educational Centre

Upon submission of the Application Ι.Φ.1, the following photos should be submitted:

• Teaching Rooms;
• Workshops (if any);
• Reception area;
• Parking;
• Lavatories (with insignia for girls-boys);
• External sign.

Operational information of the Private Institute

The owner of the Private Institute / Private Educational Centre must inform the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth of any changes relating to the operation of the Private Institute / Private Educational Centre and for this purpose the forms “YΠΑΝ ΙΕΦ 07“ and “YΠΑΝ ΙΕΦ 01“ must be completed and sent to the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth.