Allegations of abuse of exam accommodations in Paphos

Allegations have emerged regarding the abuse of additional time accommodations during the Pancyprian Examinations. Reports from the newspaper 'Phileleftheros' suggest that some parents, specifically those working as doctors, teachers, or civil servants, are obtaining medical certificates for their children without prior medical history. These certificates allow students to receive an extra half-hour for exams, providing a competitive advantage for entrance into high-demand university programs. The phenomenon is allegedly concentrated in the third year of Lyceum, with cases appearing suddenly before exams. Official written complaints have been submitted to the Ministry of Education regarding two specific public schools in the Paphos district. One report claims that in certain subjects at these schools, the rate of students granted the extra time reached 50%. The Ministry of Education has been called to investigate these claims to ensure the integrity of the examination process. These accommodations are legally intended only for students with documented learning disabilities or health issues.