Address by the Minister of Education, Sport and Youth, Dr Athena Michaelidou, at the Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth and the Cervantes Institute on the pilot introduction of the DELE certification in public schools during the 2025-2026 academic year

From:

Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth

02/09/25 16:26 | Speech / Address | Education, Sport and Youth

It is a great pleasure to welcome you today to the Signing Ceremony of this Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth of the Republic of Cyprus and the Cervantes Institute of the Kingdom of Spain.

This Memorandum is more than a formal agreement. It marks a concrete milestone in reinforcing the close bonds of cooperation between Cyprus and Spain in the field of education. At the same time, it responds directly to one of our Ministry’s central priorities: promoting plurilingualism, strengthening our students’ language competences, and expanding their educational and personal opportunities.

The introduction of the Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language (DELE) certification in public schools represents an important step forward. It will offer our students the opportunity to have their Spanish language competences certified through an internationally recognised qualification, fully aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages of the Council of Europe.

In Cyprus, students already have the opportunity to obtain certification in the two mandatory modern languages taught in our public schools, English and French, achieving excellent results every year. The inclusion of Spanish will further broaden their horizons, opening new opportunities for academic and professional advancement, while enriching the teaching and learning process.

Spanish is currently offered as an elective course in the Lyceum, and it is particularly encouraging to observe the remarkable increase in the number of students choosing this language over the past three years. This dynamic growth reflects the genuine interest of our young people in learning the language and culture of Spain, and confirms that this initiative comes at the right moment.

I am confident that this Memorandum will not only stand as a symbol of the close friendship between Cyprus and Spain, but also serve as a practical tool that will benefit our students, empower our teachers, and strengthen our education system, while opening new pathways of cooperation between our two countries.

I would like to warmly thank all those who contributed to the preparation of this agreement, and in particular our partners from Spain, for their valuable collaboration and dedication. Through our joint efforts, I am certain that this Memorandum will lay strong foundations for further educational cooperation.

(LY/IA)

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