Cyprus to Extend Operating Hours of Nurseries and Kindergartens Starting Next Year

Cypriot authorities have introduced measures to extend the operating hours of nurseries and kindergartens until 7:30 PM. These new regulations will be implemented as a pilot project starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Which preschool institutions will be affected by this new measure, and how will it be carried out?

The announcement was made by the President of the Republic as part of a broader package of measures aimed at addressing the country’s demographic challenges.

Marilena Evangelou, the Deputy Minister of Welfare, explained during the “Alpha Kalimera” show that a project is currently being developed to establish criteria for institutions already participating in the subsidized educational and meal programs for children, which are currently applied to school units. It is expected that both public and private kindergartens will be included in the plan, with financial and other incentives offered to extend their operating hours.

It is also noted that some public and private nurseries and kindergartens already operate until 5 or 6 PM, benefiting from the government support program.

When asked about the need for additional teaching and support staff in participating institutions, the Deputy Minister emphasized that "if there is no demand, there can be no enforcement."

As for the measure to support businesses with more than 100 employees in opening nurseries or childcare centers for their staff, it was noted that "the required space does not necessarily have to be located within the companies."

The Deputy Minister also mentioned that the incentives and funding are expected to be attractive enough to encourage businesses to offer such services to their employees.