The official languages of the Republic of Cyprus are Greek (Greek-Cypriot community) and Turkish (Turkish-Cypriot community). Almost all official announcements and documents as well as the official website of the Republic of Cyprus, of several ministries and of the House of Representatives.are published in both languages. English is widely used.
The Cyprus Pedagogical Institute (CPI) provides an intensive training programme to secondary school teachers of the Greek language for teaching Greek as a second language to children of immigrant background. As regards diaspora communities, the CPI has been offering for over ten years a six-month teacher training course for teaching Greek as a second language for Greek origin diaspora teachers from Eastern and Central Europe countries.
Moreover, for the reception of newly arrived students and their families the following measures are being adopted (a) publication of a Cyprus Education Guide in two versions and different languages; (b) Induction Guide for new coming pupils from other countries which is translated in eight languages (English, Turkish, Russian, Georgian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Ukrainian and Arabic
During the European Year 2008 on Intercultural Dialogue, the CPI organised a conference on Intercultural Education and conducted research on teachers’ attitudes on interculturalism.
As regards diaspora communities the CPI has been offering for over ten years a six-month teacher training course for teaching Greek as a second language for Greek origin diaspora teachers from Eastern and Central Europe countries.
In addition to the above, literary translations from Greek to foreign languages are subsidised as well as the translation and publication from Greek into Turkish and from Turkish into Greek.
As explained above ( chapter 2.5.3), the CyBC (Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation) broadcasts in different languages. This includes Turkish TV programmes of 2.5 hours a week, with subtitles in Turkish for some local productions. In the occupied area there are no media for the Greek minority; it is only possible to pick up Greek radio stations from the south, such as CBC channels 1, 2 and 3. Foreign films / series are normally dubbed in Turkish, and private TV stations broadcast entirely in Turkish.
Cyprus is a member of the Organisation of Francophonie. In that context, the country actively participates to all relevant projects and activities. The Cypriot Ministry of Education and the French Institute organise an annual competition in French language for public high school students. The main theme of the competition changes every year but is always related to the topic of Francophonie throughout the world.
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