Start of the school year in Cyprus involves logistics and textbook shortages

On Monday, September 7, 2026, secondary schools across the Republic of Cyprus reopened, welcoming approximately 47,000 students to gymnasiums, lyceums, and technical schools. While the return to academic routines has been generally positive, police authorities had to intervene in several unauthorized parties, and fire crews attended to three minor fires. A significant new development this year is the strict enforcement of mobile phone bans by school administrations, which began implementation on the very first day.

Meanwhile, primary schools are scheduled to start classes on September 14, 2026, but will face complications due to textbook shortages. Delays affect six subjects across various grades, with the most significant impact on mathematics textbooks for grades 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. Temporary printed materials are expected by mid-September to cover the initial weeks, while teachers have been instructed to utilize electronic versions and supplementary online resources for subjects like science, technology, geography, and history of Cyprus until the physical copies arrive.