Special Initiatives in Mathematics and Science Education
One important initiative in the Cyprus educational system is the implementation of a new national curriculum and school timetable.37 The introduction of a new mathematics curriculum is underway. During the 2013–2014 school year, the new curriculum was implemented in Grades 1 to 3, and during the following year it was extended to the fourth grade. New trends in the teaching and learning of mathematics include students’ active engagement in the acquisition of mathematical concepts, the development of epistemological approaches to new mathematical concepts, and differentiated instruction. The instructional model in the new mathematics curriculum reflects these new trends and refers to the stages of exploration, investigation, activities, and evaluation.38
A new science curriculum also is being implemented gradually in Cyprus. Since 2011, new or refined versions of teaching units have been introduced every year. The curriculum in effect for the fourth grade during the 2014–2015 school year was introduced in 2011. The development of the curriculum as well as the implementation of the new teaching and learning units it contains is based on theories including constructivism, inquiry-based science learning, and team learning.39