Cyprus Educational Institute / Paidagogiko Institouto Kyprou

FOUNDATION HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT

The Pedagogical Institute was established in 1972 by decision of the Council of Ministers based on the report-proposal submitted by Professor EG Wedell, from the University of Manchester, UNESCO Consultant, in 1971 entitled "Cyprus - Teacher and Educational Development".

The Pedagogical Institute started operating in 1973, under the direction of the first Director of the Institute, Dr. Ioannis Koutsakou (1973-1983), with the aim of:

To become a center where the profession itself undertakes the critique of its actions and activities, and where collaborative work is done by educators at all levels of the hierarchy in the system, whether they are involved in classroom teaching, or in teaching practice in administrative roles or in educational direction (Weddell, 1971, 14).
Since June 2002, the Unified Program Development Service (CSP) has joined the Pedagogical Institute, which deals with the writing and publishing of textbooks, the production of teaching materials, both for teachers and students, as well as the curriculum design.

In the framework of the Educational Reform in June 2008, by decision of the Council of Ministers, the Center for Educational Research and Evaluation (KEEA) was established and at the same time a Scientific Council was appointed.

The mission of the Scientific Council is to advise the Ministry of Education and Culture on issues related to the continuous professional development of teachers, research and more generally on issues that fall within the responsibilities of the Pedagogical Institute and the Center for Educational Research and Evaluation and to ensure cooperation of the two institutions.

The Pedagogical Institute functioned in 2009 with the new structure.

PROJECT AND MISSION OF THE PEDAGOGICAL INSTITUTE

The mission of the Pedagogical Institute is to provide for the continuous training of teachers of all levels, to inform them about modern trends in education, to research and theoretically document the educational policy to be followed and to facilitate teachers in their efforts for professional and personal development.

His work is developmental and moves along the following main axes:

• Offers in-service training to teachers of all levels, with various mandatory programs and optional seminars
• Plans and conducts educational research and evaluation studies
• Monitors and implements modern trends in Pedagogy
• Promotes the utilization of New Technologies in Education
• It takes care of the writing and publication of books of educational interest, the design and production of teaching materials, the publication of textbooks.

BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES OF THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

The main building and facilities of the Pedagogical Institute are located in Latsia. A branch operates in Limassol , to meet the needs of the provinces of Limassol and Paphos. In the main building of the Pedagogical Institute there is a Library, which includes a wide variety of scientific journals and books.

STAFF

All staff members have extensive educational experience and high academic qualifications (Master's or Doctoral degree). The staff consists of the Director and Heads of Departments, Permanent teachers, Seconded teachers.

collaborators

The Pedagogical Institute cooperates with all Directorates of the Ministry of Education and Culture and uses their staff to achieve its goals. It also collaborates with the professors of the Universities of Cyprus and institutions abroad, who are invited to take part in training programs, seminars and other activities.