LIFELONG LEARNING PROGRAMME Comenius multilateral School partnerships Understanding

LIFELONG LEARNING PROGRAMME Comenius multilateral School partnerships ‘Understanding equalities through the use of mass media’ EQMM 2013 -15 Cyprus group - Solea Lyceum

Mobility in Hlohovec – Slovakia 16 – 20 September 2014 Minority groups living in Cyprus and the way they are presented in mass media

The population of Cyprus accounts for 0, 2% of the total population of the 28 European Union countries. Cyprus has the third smallest population ranking behind Malta and Luxembourg.

According to the Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus, the population of Cyprus is estimated at 956, 5 thousand at the end of 2012 Total population figures do not include illegal settlers from Turkey, the number of which most probably is in the range of 160 -170 thousands, estimated on information of significant arrivals of Turks in the occupied area.

Out of a total of 956. 500 inhabitants the estimated composition of the population by community at the end of 2012 was: Ø Greek Cypriot community 688. 100 or 71, 9% Ø Turkish Cypriot community 90. 600 or 9, 5% Ø Foreign residents 177. 800 or 18, 6%

The religious groups which belong to the Greek Cypriot community totalled: Armenians 2. 600 or 0, 4% of the Greek Cypriot community and 0, 3% of the total population Maronites 5. 000 or 0, 7% of the Greek Cypriot community and 0, 5% of the total population Latins 800 or 0, 1% of the Greek Cypriot community and 0, 1% of the total population

The Largest foreign ethnic groups living in Cyprus: v v v v Greeks (from mainland): 17. 3% (31, 044) British: 14. 8% (26, 659) Russian: 13. 6% (24, 376) Filipinos: 10. 7% (19, 197) Romanian: 4. 8% (8, 663) Bulgarian: 5. 4% (9, 744) Sri Lankan: 4. 1% (7, 350) Vietnamese: 4% (7, 102) Syrian: 1. 8% (3, 235) Ukrainian: 1. 7% (3, 023) Polish: 1. 6% (2, 951) Indian: 1. 6% (2, 955) Georgian: 1. 2% (2, 113) German: 0. 6% (1, 162) Other EU countries: 4% (7, 035) Other non-EU countries: 12% (22, 938)

Mass media and Minority groups in Cyprus

The press in Cyprus is a free and independent institution and is not subject to intervention or control by any state authority. The freedom of the press is enshrined in the Cyprus Republic’s constitution.

Radio and Television The official Radio and Television in Cyprus is Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (Cy. BC) Parallel to the Greek programmes, both Cy. BC Radio and Television broadcast news in English and Turkish Minorities in Cyprus have the opportunity to be informed about local and world news The most of the foreign people have Satellite TV at home in order to watch programmes from their countries

The First Channel transmits a special programme for Maronites, titled 'The Voice of Maronites'. There is also a special program for the Latin community. The second channel, known as Cy. BC Radio Two, transmits programmes in various languages on a 24 -hour basis: in Turkish for the Turkish Cypriots in Armenian for the Armenians and in English foreign visitors and permanent non-Greek-speaking residents. Armenian-Cypriots have their own radio programme and newspapers

Newspapers and magazines Newspapers Frequency language Cyprus Mail Daily English Cyprus Weekly English Middle East Economic Survey Weekly English Financial Mirror Weekly English/Greek Europe-Cyprus Weekly Russian The Bulgarian Newspaper Weekly Bulgarian Vestnik Kipra Weekly Russian Romania Fortnightly Romanian GE For All Monthly Russian/English Azad Tzayn Magazines Monthly Armenian/Greek Cyprus Today Quarterly English Passport Quarterly English

There are only five (5) foreign students in our school. Two boys and three girls. All of them are in the 3 rd class. The first boy is from Ukraine and The second from Greece The first girl is from France The second from Greece and The third from China The two boys and the two girls started their education in Greek Primary schools of the area, only the Chinese girl didn’t.

All the above students attend the regular classes at school. Only the Chinese girl has support for the Greek language. However, she didn’t find any difficulties to pass the Modern Greek lesson in the first and second class of Lyceum. Despite their foreign origin, one cannot tell that they come from a different country. They speak the Greek Cypriot dialect too. Only the facial characteristics of the Chinese girl witness that she comes from China. All of them are expected to pass the University Entrance examinations at the end of this year and get a position at a University in Cyprus or abroad.