Allegations of malpractice regarding examination accommodations in Cyprus

Public reports and complaints have emerged regarding the potential abuse of extra time accommodations during the Pancyprian Examinations in Cyprus. Loizos Konstantinou, president of the Secondary Education Parents' Confederation, stated that there are claims of students obtaining false medical certificates for learning difficulties to gain an additional 30 minutes for exams. These reports specifically mention two schools in the Paphos district, with some claims suggesting that up to 50% of students in certain subjects received these accommodations. Critics allege that parents with medical or administrative backgrounds are exploiting these regulations for children who have no prior medical history, specifically for high-demand university courses. Conversely, the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth has stated that it has not received any formal complaints regarding this issue. The Ministry emphasized that accommodations are granted by a specialized committee under the 2017 law to ensure equal opportunities for students with documented needs. The Confederation notes that the number of students requesting such accommodations has risen by 100 compared to five years ago.