Advice on schools in Northern Cyprus

wesley


Joined: 10/03/2011
Posts: 12

Message Posted:
10/03/2011 18:44

I originally bought a holiday home on the Karpaz, however, having fallen in love with the island we have decided to move over there. Unfortunately we have hit a major problem, where can I send my my six year old daughter (bright, but then I would think that) to school.



I know that there is Sunny Lane, but given the distace/time from the Karpaz it is really not an option. Again I know of the GAU in Nicosia but again have the same problem.



Is there any schools nearer to the Karpaz that either teach in English or at least offer English as a second language possibly (Famagusta).



Moving to Kyrenia is a last resort as we do not want to sell the house in Kyrenia and cannot afford to rent ther whilst maintaing the house in the Karpaz.



Any views or experience of ex-pat children going to TRNC schools would be great.



Thanks

fishh


Joined: 17/04/2009
Posts: 147

Message Posted:
10/03/2011 19:24

eastern med university have english prep school in famagusta http://www.emu.edu.tr

rejela


Joined: 09/02/2011
Posts: 293

Message Posted:
10/03/2011 21:44

Hi, where are you situated in Karpaz? My daughter teaches in Yeni Erenkoy at the senior school there. I spoke to her about your message and she thinks you would be better putting your child in a states school in Karpaz. It is difficult for the child to start with but they learn fluent Turkish and English so they tend to be at home here in Cyprus after the initial shock. We moved out here 11 years ago, our children couldn't read or write Turish but now they are all fluent in both languages. My eldest found school difficult to start with but ended up winning a teaching post at a state school.

Private schooling is much more affordable here than it is in the UK but you do need a steady income to send your child to a private school. Your biggest problem is that the nearest private school is in Farmagusta, quite a long way from karpaz.

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
10/03/2011 22:37

Lots of posts made previously about schools in NC and moving there and lots of answers given.



Recently there have been a number of 1st posters saying "moving over shortly" and asking for advice then logging off after making that lst post and disappearing, anyone else noticed this.

Jeannie


Joined: 04/08/2009
Posts: 3283

Message Posted:
10/03/2011 22:40

Woodspeckie - yes, it happens a lot on here, not necessarily just about schools either.

Jeannie


Joined: 04/08/2009
Posts: 3283

Message Posted:
10/03/2011 22:45

Follow-on from message 5 - Wesley, I was not suggesting that this is what you are doing

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
10/03/2011 22:53

Wesley not logged on at present.

parkes82uk


Joined: 22/10/2010
Posts: 75

Message Posted:
10/03/2011 23:34

No offense to anyone, but to be fair, maybe they get the answers they want.

I personally can't understand how you ask a question innocently then get bombarded with messages from really miserable people that have nothing better to do than have a go at you, being very personal.

There are some very opinionated bullies on this forum.

someone else of an older age asks a similar question and gets lovely welcoming replies.

Is it genuinely good advice or is it that they know they are past their prime so feel resentful?

If you are fed up with the same questions being ask over and over don't bother wasting your breath!



Needless to say I am still coming over in few weeks to continue to find answers to my questions about schools, jobs, vets, banks and property etc.



I will post on here how I feel about what I find out, truthfully, after my return to England, and you can bombard me again.

philbailey


Joined: 17/01/2011
Posts: 3534

Message Posted:
10/03/2011 23:40

Msg 8 the only thing I find strange is that people moving thier children to a foreign country ,come onto a forum to ask for help about life changing decisions

Personally I would consult the UK foreign office site or the country's govn site of the place I entended to go

Stonehousepub


Joined: 21/05/2009
Posts: 755

Message Posted:
10/03/2011 23:53

msg 9



This is the TRNC... Why consult the UK foreign office ??



msg 8



I know what you mean

philbailey


Joined: 17/01/2011
Posts: 3534

Message Posted:
10/03/2011 23:58

Msg 10 because they are UK citizens

if you read I also said to contact the government there



My point was do not rely on hearsay



and I can guarantee you if something goes wrong ( i hope not)

the foreign office would be the 1st place to call

as if you lost a passport abroad

parkes82uk


Joined: 22/10/2010
Posts: 75

Message Posted:
11/03/2011

Msg 9 yes but not everyone knows where to get the answers they need, surely a polite bit of guidance can be given. What's this forum actually for?

Maybe it should warn you when you register.

Stonehousepub


Joined: 21/05/2009
Posts: 755

Message Posted:
11/03/2011 00:05

msg 11



Something has'nt gone wrong... The lady is researching her proposed move to Northern Cyprus, its quite natural to make enquiries on a local forum such as cy44.



Since when has the UK foreign office recognised the TRNC ?



Even if they did they would not be able to offer relocation advice to UK citizens moving abroad.



As far as contacting the TRNC goverment goes i'd say FORGET IT

parkes82uk


Joined: 22/10/2010
Posts: 75

Message Posted:
11/03/2011 00:17

Msg 13 I hope you are referring to me as a 'lady' lol!

On a serious note I was shocked at how unfriendly people are on this forum its so unnecessary.

Yes I would like answers and yes of coarse I respect people who give what they believe to be honest answers but there are ways of speaking too people without attacking them, don't you agree?

philbailey


Joined: 17/01/2011
Posts: 3534

Message Posted:
11/03/2011 00:19

msg 13 the UK foreign office your quote "would not be able to offer relocation advice to UK citizens moving abroad."

please find this

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/

Stonehousepub


Joined: 21/05/2009
Posts: 755

Message Posted:
11/03/2011 00:31

msg 15



Fantastic !! Good link, the UK foreign office advises people retiring or moving abroad to research their destination and like I have said the destination in question is not even part of the world map.

Stonehousepub


Joined: 21/05/2009
Posts: 755

Message Posted:
11/03/2011 00:40

msg 14



Yes I do agree. I don't know or understand why some members behave in this way, maybe living in the TRNC has had an adverse effect on some of our elder members...



You wait until the summer months when the heat kicks in !!

philbailey


Joined: 17/01/2011
Posts: 3534

Message Posted:
11/03/2011 00:45

sorry to drag this further off-topic

maybe they do not refer to N/Cyprus but your quote was







"Even if they did they would not be able to offer relocation advice to UK citizens moving abroad."



Which was blatantly wrong they even provide booklets



As for the govern there I cannot comment

parkes82uk


Joined: 22/10/2010
Posts: 75

Message Posted:
11/03/2011 00:53

Msg 17 Oh gosh should I be afraid or very afraid lol

Stonehousepub


Joined: 21/05/2009
Posts: 755

Message Posted:
11/03/2011 01:06

msg 18



You obviously do not know too much about the TRNC otherwise you would not have posted msg 9.



What I was trying to say is that a booklet or website can only provide you with basic facts and maybe important phone numbers of a particular country a bit like a holiday brochure. It cannot give info on the day to day ins & outs of life in another country, but a forum such as this can. Obviously following up with regular visits to the country you plan to move or retire to and meeting & picking the brains of other UK citizens that have made the move would be the next sensible step to take.



An yes slightly off topic...

philbailey


Joined: 17/01/2011
Posts: 3534

Message Posted:
11/03/2011 01:13

msg 20 you miss my point children are involved

(this is not directed at any person/s )

but this is a big step and alot of people do not seem to do any research

if they do not know about schools or work I worry

I do more research when I go on holiday

Just my opinion

Stonehousepub


Joined: 21/05/2009
Posts: 755

Message Posted:
11/03/2011 01:28

msg 22



I agree, but your advice & comments given in msg 9 were inappropriate to the destination in question which is the TRNC.



I am not missing your point just trying to make you aware of why your mentioned options are unfortunately NO GO in this particular senario.

parkes82uk


Joined: 22/10/2010
Posts: 75

Message Posted:
11/03/2011 01:51

I understand totally your concerns when children are involved, but how can you make comments such as ' they do not seem to research' when that's exactly what they are doing by asking as many questions as possible and finding out as much as possible before making the move. Equally everyone has different circumstances and different needs and you don't personally know them so how do you know it's ' not putting their children first?'

That's is what is then taken personally.

It can be perceived as being very narrow minded, even if it's not intentional.

Share your knowledge and experience but in a way that's not humiliating and accusing.

I personally have already learned and taken on board a lot in the 2 days I have been on here, and i am very grateful. As a family we have no intention of making a rash decision.

rejela


Joined: 09/02/2011
Posts: 293

Message Posted:
11/03/2011 15:58

And now we all know why!

wesley


Joined: 10/03/2011
Posts: 12

Message Posted:
11/03/2011 18:12

Thanks for the advice on contacting the foreign office and the attached link.



I had looked at the previous links concerning schooling, however, they all fell into discussions/disagreements around pros/cons for Sunny Lane or GAU. In one of the messages someone did ask about schools in other areas but there were no responses.



Thank you fishh for the link to emu.



I obviously care about my daughters education along with the environment she is brought up in, given the current situation in the uk with drugs, binge drinking etc the TRNC (even with the political unrest) is an improvement. My daughter is the youngest in the family and I have experienced first hand the problems in the UK with her older siblings. I do not want to be in the situation that if we have to return to the UK that her education has slipped that much that she is disadvantged on her return.

parkes82uk


Joined: 22/10/2010
Posts: 75

Message Posted:
11/03/2011 22:47

Wesley good luck for the future! We are booked to come over on 26th of this month. We will be checking out what our options are as a family pros and cons of North & South. I hope you find a school that suits for your daughter.

IbrahimAbi


Joined: 24/10/2010
Posts: 245

Message Posted:
11/03/2011 23:09

How little of this was practical advice about schools, how sad we are

rejela


Joined: 09/02/2011
Posts: 293

Message Posted:
12/03/2011 15:51

Absolutely! But why, no wonder people never return to these pages! vay vay vay.

Gunnamatta


Joined: 18/03/2010
Posts: 48

Message Posted:
26/05/2011 18:34

Hey Wesley, did you get an outcome for your daughter? I am in the same boat vis my son (4 and a half)