School year in TRNC schools to begin on September 14: 59,000 students and 6,500 teachers

The 2026–2027 academic year at state schools in Northern Cyprus will begin on September 14: around 59,000 students will return to the classroom, with lessons taught by 6,500 teachers. Primary schools will begin classes on Monday, while secondary and vocational-technical schools will start on Tuesday, September 15.

TRNC Minister of National Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu said that building reinforcement work had been completed at 40 schools and was continuing at nine more. He called the safety of students and staff the priority.

There are currently 252 prefabricated classrooms in the education system, and the ministry expects to eliminate them within two years. In recent years, 30 new schools have been opened, while five more projects are under way: special-needs schools in Kyrenia and Famagusta, primary schools in Nicosia and Gönyeli, and a vocational high school in Kyrenia.

Between 2019 and 2025, schools added 622 classrooms, 119 restrooms and 96 administrative rooms, and purchased 27,195 chairs, 18,675 desks, 3,294 computers and 1,202 interactive whiteboards. For the current academic year, a further 3,950 chairs, 2,910 desks, 500 computers and 190 interactive whiteboards have been delivered, while 146 schools were renovated over the summer.

Most of the need for teachers has been met: an additional 10 school psychologists for primary schools, nine technology and design teachers, and six teachers for the secondary level have been requested. Some 96% of teachers took part in professional development courses.

TL 80 million was allocated for school meals in the previous academic year, and funding is expected to increase. Textbooks printed by the ministry have already been distributed to schools. The ministry is also separately working on installing cameras in school buses.