April 22 – Тhe Cyprus Football Association (CFA) and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation, aimed at integrating football into the Secondary General Education curriculum.
The agreement was signed by the Minister of Education, Athena Michaelidou, and the President of the CFA, Harris Loizides.
The partnership operates under the framework of the UEFA-backed ‘Grassroots Football in Schools’ programme. The primary objective is to leverage the CFA’s technical expertise and resources to ensure students receive high-quality athletic education and foster a healthy sports culture within middle schools (Gymnasiums).
The memorandum outlines several core initiatives to be implemented over the next four years:
– Teacher Training: The CFA Football School will organize specialized seminars for Physical Education teachers, allowing them to obtain the Grassroots D Coaching License.
– Student Workshops: The CFA will host ‘Football Days’ and specialised training sessions for students, led by professional instructors from the Federation.
– Equipment Support: The CFA has committed to providing the Ministry with essential educational and athletic equipment to meet the needs of participating schools.
The new initiative follows the implementation of a similar programme for Primary Education, which has been in effect since 2023. To date, dozens of primary school teachers have already earned their coaching licenses, and the Federation continues to provide annual sports equipment to elementary schools across the country.
“This collaboration will provide thousands of middle school students and dozens of educators with the opportunity for specialised training, promoting the values of sportsmanship and teamwork from an early age”, said the CFA.
Contact the writer of this story, Aleksander Krassimirov, at [email protected]