Primary and secondary level education in North Cyprus is free and from the age of seven to fifteen schooling is compulsory.  There are enough schools, places and teachers to enable all children who apply themselves to have a good standard of schooling, furthermore funding for the education system in TRNC is strong.

For expatriates in North Cyprus there are various international school options that they can access on both sides of the green line - however those who wish their children to study for A levels or the international baccalaureate for example will have to school their children in the Republic of (south) Cyprus, in local Turkish Cypriot schools where all teaching is through the medium of Turkish or they will have to send them away to boarding school.

For pre-school children in North Cyprus there are various kindergartens and playschools available although spaces are often limited.  Once a child reaches the age of six or seven they attend primary school before progressing to either junior high school or the fine arts junior high school.  After the age of thirteen children are streamed according to their ability and can either go on to take an academic path and remain in school until they are eighteen before having the option to attend university, or else they can go through a vocational or practical education system.

Those with learning or physical difficulties are not very well catered for in North Cyprus although the awareness of those with such special needs is increasing and efforts are being made to change the schooling system to provide classes and assistance for all.

Almost all expatriates with children who move to live in North Cyprus choose an alternative to the local schooling system for three main reasons.  Firstly all teaching is through the medium of Turkish and those children from a non-Turkish background will most likely suffer as a result, secondly the structure of education in North Cyprus is very different to that which most British and European children will be used to meaning that they will find it hard to adjust and if their parents are only living and working in North Cyprus temporarily their education will be further disrupted if they then go back to the old system of schooling that they were used to - and thirdly there is great emphasis placed on the teaching of Turkish and Turkish Cypriot history, of singing the national anthem, raising the national flag and paying formal daily respect to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk the founder of modern day Turkey, and such ceremonies and processes are quite an alien concept to most expatriate parents and children.

The best international school in North Cyprus at the moment is Sunny Lane School in Alsancak where the education system, teaching and discipline methods are based entirely on the British schooling system.  Children start school from the age of four and at the moment they can remain in school to the age of sixteen when they sit their International GCSE exams.  Currently Sunny Lane does not offer A levels although there is talk that this will change in the near future which would be fantastic!

The other options are the Girne American University Schools or the Near East University Schools where some teaching is through the medium of English – however neither institution offers higher secondary level education other than preparation for attendance at either the Girne American University or the Near East University.

These restrictions mean that some parents prefer their children to attend an international school in Nicosia on the Greek Cypriot side of the border – popular choices include Highgate, the Grammar School of Nicosia and the American International School; as mentioned the only other viable option is placing children in a boarding school in the country the expatriate family originally heralds from.

As the North Cyprus economy has a heavy reliance upon its education sector it’s likely that this sector will continue to receive the assistance and support it needs and flourish as a result, meaning that those with jobs in North Cyprus who are considering expatriation but who are worried about the educational needs of their children need have no fear.