european journal of social sciences issn: 1450-2267 - EuroJournals

European Journal of Social Sciences – Volume 5, Number 3 (2007)
Though they hold considerable sway with their military and monetary presence on the island, the
political leadership has proven less pragmatic in this arena.
The increased economic prosperity that EU membership has brought to the Greek community
of Cyprus will, as time goes by, serve as a major mechanism of further marginalization for the Turkish
population(s). This would make them not only question the value of their political leadership, with its
continual guard against influences of the Greek south, but come to resent what they have been denied
through the absence of the same membership. As reported in the Economist, Rauf Denktash, the
Turkish president on Cyprus, has publicly stated that he does not desire the loss of so much sovereignty
on the part of the Turkish community 22 . He would prefer looser ties with the European Union.
Recently, a referendum was held for acceptance of an EU treaty by both the Greek south and the
Turkish north. The Turkish north overwhelmingly passed the referendum in spite of the positions of
their political leaders. The Greek south, however, did not due to stipulations on their rights of return to
communities they had previously occupied on the northern part of the island 23 . These referendums
have more to do with the political and demographic landscape, but greatly influence the educational
landscape as a by-product.
The education received by students on both sides is oriented in a way that first accuses and then
marginalizes the other group. Language, civics, and history education all coalesce to form a distinctive
flavor of nationalism that is oriented around ethnicity. The outcomes of these experiences for students
are continually building a dimension to their relationship that stymies the leap of trust and faith that is
required for reconciliation of the island and reunification of its people. This comes about through the
influence of the political leadership, since the substance and orientation of the curriculum is one that
they have such a heavy hand in 24 . As described by Ozerk earlier, language is essential to bridging
differences between groups. In this instance, language, history and civics education are not separate
dimensions of education, but tightly interwoven with the intent of achieving a particular, in this case
nationalistic, end.
The increasing disparity of relations created between the two communities will become more
substantial in scope as time goes by. This will have drastic implications for the educational structures
of the north since they are already operating with resources well below those of the Greek communities
of the south. As the resources continue to flow into the Greek south of Cyprus, but not to the north, the
basic educational infrastructure which enables students to be competitive in the larger world will
become even more lop-sided. This is partly due to the small size and population of Cyprus. A
majority of the students who desire further post secondary education leave the island in order to make
it happen, both Greek and Turkish. The resources made available to improve the educational
experiences of Turkish students will not be able to improve dramatically, while a steadily improving
lot of the Greek Cypriots will. Cyprus has a very high rate of literacy and graduation from secondary
school with a majority of students aspiring to continue their education 25 . This education, however, still
requires the constant evolution and improvement through allocation of resources. The education they
are offered will improve marginally with regard to the physical resources that account for part of the
schooling experience. Recently, Cyprus has experienced economic growth due partly to the abilities of
their educational sector 26 . Though resources made available will continue to promote their identity, the
questions to be asked are what it will be promoted in relation to.
22
Economist. (1997). “Greater, poorer.” Economist, October 2. [Electronic version]
23
BBC News (April 25, 2004) “Cyprus spurns historic chance.” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3656753.stm (accessed
July 26, 2007)
24
Ioannidou, M. (1997). Curriculum as political text: the case of Cyprus. History of Education 26(4): 395-407.
25
CIA World Fact Book, 2007, http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cy.html (accessed July 11,
2007)
26
CIA World Fact Book, 2007
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