Post on 18-Dec-2015
ANGELIKI ANDREOU, ANNA MICHAIL, ELENI LANITI
MINORITY GROUPS AND
THEIR LANGUAGE RIGHTS
IN THE REPUBLIC OF
CYPRUS
THE ARMENIAN MINORITY IN THE REPUBLIC OF
CYPRUS
Armenians existed in Cyprus since 6th Century.
Main migration happened in 1915-1923, after the
Armenian Genocide in Turkey.
Nowadays, there are around 2600 Armenians in
the Republic of Cyprus.
Inhabitants of South Cyprus and Famagusta (those
left after the Turkish invasion, 1974).
They are considered to be a ‘religious group’.
They have the right to elect a representative to
represent themselves to the Cypriot Parliament.
Most of them are bilinguals in Greek and
Armenian.
They have the right to use their language publicly
and privately and receive instructions to it, as well.
There are three public schools that offer Armenians
education in Greek, English and Armenian.
These schools are funded by the Cypriot government
and are supervised by the Ministry of Education and
Culture of the Republic of Cyprus.
These schools follow the official school curriculum, just
like other schools, but they organize activities that are
related to the Armenian language and culture. (classes in
Armenian history, geography and traditional Armenian
dance).
THE MARONITES MINORITY IN THE REPUBLIC OF
CYPRUS
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
They migrated in the 8th century
Maronites are a religious group
They chose to follow the Greek-Cypriot community
They are now the third largest religious group in
Cyprus
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Before Turkish invasion in 1974 they were located
in Keryneia
Now they are located in Nicosia
In politics they have the right to elect a
representative in the Cypriot Parliament but
he/she has not the right to vote
MARONITES IN NOWADAYS
Educated in Greek schools
They have their own culture
They are trying to preserve their cultural identity
with various ways
Their language has been recognised as a minority
language in 2008
THE LATIN AND ROMANI
MINORITIES IN THE
REBUBLIC OF CYPRUS
LATINS
Latins arrived in Cyprus in the 16th
century
Migrants from Italy, Malta and France
Nowadays there are approximately
900 Latins on the island.
They are mentioned as a religious group in
the Constitution.
They do not have their own language.
Mostly they are enrolled in Greek-Cypriot
schools. however they have separate Roman
Catholic Schools.
ROMANI
No official records for their arrival in Cyprus.
There are around 500 and 1000 of Roma living on the island.
They are not considered as a religious group.
Most of them live in the occupied part of the island.
There are no data available as it comes to their language
status.
They could receive educational support due to their socio-
economic status.
REFERENCES
Spinthourakis, J. A., Karatzia-Stavlioti, E.,
Lempesi, G. E., Papadimitriou, I., Giannaka, C.
(2008). Educational Policies that Address Social
Inequality. Department of Elementary Education
University of Patras, Greece. Retrieved from:
http://www.epasi.eu/CountryReportCY.pdf