Cyprus falls short of EU preschool participation targets

In 2024, the participation rate of children aged three to the start of compulsory primary education in preschool programs in Cyprus reached 89.2%, according to data released by Eurostat. This figure remains below the European Union average of 94.4% and falls short of the broader EU target to achieve a 96% participation rate by 2030.

Across the European Union, the data shows that nearly half of the children in regions with available statistics already reside in areas where the 96% target has been met. Of the 198 NUTS 2 regions monitored, 99 have already reached or exceeded the goal. These high-performing regions are primarily located in countries such as Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden. Luxembourg has also successfully achieved the 96% benchmark, while 20 other regions across the EU have reported near-total participation rates for children in this age group.

The findings highlight a significant gap between the current progress in Cyprus and the pan-European standards established for early childhood education. While many member states are closing in on the 2030 goal, Cyprus must increase its participation efforts to align with the rest of the bloc.