OELMEK and Parents Confederation oppose rejection of 60 school psychologist positions for 2027

The OELMEK teachers' union and the Pancyprian Confederation of Secondary Education Parents have issued a joint statement criticizing the Ministry of Finance's decision to exclude 60 new educational psychologist positions from the 2027 state budget. These positions were originally proposed by the Ministry of Education to address increasing incidents of school violence, delinquency, and students' mental health challenges. The organizations argue that current staffing levels are insufficient, resulting in significant delays in providing necessary support to students, parents, and teachers. They emphasize that the Educational Psychology Service is a critical mechanism for prevention and crisis intervention rather than a supplementary service. Statistics cited in the report indicate that Cyprus currently has a ratio of one educational psychologist per 1,859 students. This figure stands in stark contrast to international standards, which typically aim for a ratio of 1:500 or lower. Both organizations have called on the Ministry of Finance and the state to reconsider their decision and approve the requested staffing increase. They maintain that funding for children's mental health should be viewed as a vital social investment rather than a controllable expense.