COMENIUS-SCHOOL PARTNESHIPS

CYPRUS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF The Cyprus School For The Deaf was established in 1953 in Nicosia. It began with 22 students who stayed in the School´s boarding house. The building facilities were not adequate.

In 1972 a new school was built near Nicosia which included a school building, dormitory and workshops. The number of students rose to about 100.

From 1975 to 1976 the School functioned as a refugee school in the vicinity of Nicosia. In 1974 the Turkish invasion took place. The School was seized by the Turkish forces and turned into an army base.

In 1987 the school occupied its present facilities in Nicosia.

In 1988 mainstreaming of deaf students in ordinary schools was began. The number of students at the School For The Deaf has been dropping steadily since then.

In 1999 the policy of mainstreaming in ordinary schools was made official with Law.

Currently, about 95% of school- age deaf children attend ordinary schools.

Programs and Services The School currently functions as a day school. In addition to the school program, it provides many other services.

Early Education and Parent Guidance Program. An itinerant, home – based program for children under 3 and their families.

Pre-school and Kindergarten (reception class) education Primary School Secondary School Adult Education Programs The pre-school, primary and secondary education programs are equivalent to programs in the ordinary schools.

Mainstreaming Support Services This program provides support to deaf students and their teachers in the ordinary schools. It includes the development of Individual Educational Programs and in-service training of teachers.

Audiological Services The School has a fully-equipped Audiological Center run by a qualified audiologist. It provides free audiological services to deaf and hearing people.

Services for deaf adults These services include job placement, ongoing education and the general well being of the deaf adults

Students at the School The students can be divided into two groups. A) Older students who attend the secondary school program at the School For The Deaf and whose main mode of communication is Sign Language. These students are expected to graduate from the school.

Students at the School B) Younger children who attend, for the most part, the Preschool Program. Most of these children have cochlear implants. These children are being prepared for mainstreaming in the ordinary schools.

Teaching Staff The staff includes specialized teachers of the deaf and instructors from Secondary and Technical Education.

Future plans Given the current situation and developments, the staff of the school have recommended to the Ministry of Education that the School For The Deaf be re- structured as a Center for the Deaf. This Center would provide the above – mentioned services and in addition would work for the development and teaching of Sign Language, research in deaf topics and promotion of deaf awareness.