Education Committee: Amendments on foreign language programs

The Parliamentary Education Committee is holding an emergency meeting today to discuss amendments to the bill concerning the provision of foreign language undergraduate programs by TEPAK and the University of Cyprus. The aim is to complete the discussion before the end of the parliamentary term on July 10.

Amendments have been submitted by the parties DIKO, DISY, AKEL, and independent MP Andreas Themistokleous. The amendments concern issues such as informing the Parliament about new programs, limiting the academics teaching in them, the existence of corresponding Greek-language programs, admission criteria, and tuition fees.

DIKO seeks mandatory notification of the Education Committee for each new foreign language program, including the amount of tuition and cost. DISY proposes the existence of a Greek-language program as a prerequisite for the creation of a foreign language program, with the exception of inter-university, interdepartmental, and interdisciplinary programs. AKEL disagrees with the term "self-funded programs" and proposes that admission be mainly through Pancyprian Examinations.

Andreas Themistokleous suggests that there should be no duplicate foreign language programs and that the existence of a corresponding Greek-language program should be required.