Language Research
6. Language in everyday life: The use of language in everyday life, e.g. education, broadcasting, and other
SCHOOLS
At the beginning of the 1990s, there was an abundance of qualified teachers for all levels and types of schools, as well as administrative personnel, all of whom were accredited by a special committee of the Ministry of Education. All public schools had uniform curricula; the preparation of school textbooks was the responsibility of committees of teachers and administrators, working in close cooperation with educational authorities in Greece. Some instructional material for both primary and secondary education was donated by the Greek government. Cypriot schools were also well provided with modern teaching equipment.
The Greek Cypriot education system consisted of preprimary and primary schools, secondary general and secondary technical/vocational schools, and special schools for the blind, deaf, and other teachable handicapped persons. In addition, there were institutions for teacher training, specialized instruction, and informal education. As of 1990, there was no university in the Republic of Cyprus. Until one was opened in the early 1990s, further studies had to be pursued abroad. There were a small number of private schools.
Updated (December 2003)
BROADCASTING
Currently in the Republic of Cyprus, there are 6 island-wide and 5 local television channels, 10 island-wide and 30 local radio stations and one news agency. Apart from the public broadcasting stations, the commercial and printed media do not take any visible measures in regard to the specific needs of the linguistic minorities living on the island.
According to the CYBC Department for Broadcasting in the Turkish, Armenian and other languages, programs in Turkish are broadcast every day between 6am and 5pm. During these eleven hours a specific CYBC Radio Channel broadcasts three news bulletins, regular reviews of the Greek press, and a wide variety of informative programs on political affairs, economy, women’s issues, culture, art, musical entertainment and lessons for learning the Greek language.
A CYBC Television Channel also broadcasts in the Turkish language, every day a news bulletin and every Tuesday and Friday two short informative programs.
An hour-long radio transmission in the Armenian language begins every day at 5pm. These programs include news bulletins three times per week, women’s issues, programs for children, literature, and Armenian music.
For the religious groups of the Maronites and the Latins, there are two short programs in the Greek language every Saturday afternoon. Since June 27, 1999, the CYBC has also transmitted a program for Maronites, entitled “The Voice of Maronites.” In addition, a program for the Latins started on November 13, 1999.
Every day from 6pm until midnight, the radio programs are broadcast in the English language (three 10-minute news bulletins, a live evening magazine and music). During summer seasons, there is an additional early-evening program for visitors to the island broadcast live in four languages.
Source: Minority-language Related Broadcasting and Legislation in the OSCE, Program in Comparative Media Law and Policy (PCMLP), Center for Socio-Legal Studies, Wolfson College, Oxford University & Institute for Information Law (IViR) (http://www.ivir.nl/index-english.html), Universiteit van Amsterdam (Study commissioned by the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities), April 2003, edited by T. McGonagle (IViR), B. Davis Noll & M. Price (PCMLP), http://www.ivir.nl/publications/mcgonagle/Minority-language%20broadcasting.pdf
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