Family support and early childhood education and care in Cyprus: existing policies and challenges

Abstract

ABSTRACTAlthough wide family support policies are available to Cypriot families, Cyprus is among the countries with the least developed ECEC systems and the processes taken to address ECEC deficits is slow. Although female employment rates are slightly below the EU averages, there is a gap in the availability of childcare, an underinvestment in public ECEC and an inadequacy of policies in order to support mothers and families in general to balance their work and family lives. The present paper aims at shedding light on the complex and multi-layered aspects of reconciliation of paid work and care for children in Cyprus, presenting the family support measures available in Cyprus, as well as the provision of ECEC services. Existing policies and challenges are presented and discussed.