Audit report reveals mismanagement of school infrastructure in Cyprus

The Audit Office of the Republic of Cyprus released Special Report No. EE-EY 22/2026, criticizing the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth for its handling of student overcrowding. Auditor General Andreas Papaconstantinou highlighted that prefabricated classrooms, originally intended as temporary measures for urgent needs, have become permanent fixtures, with some remaining in use for over ten years. The report identified a lack of centralized oversight, as the Ministry maintains no official registry of these units or their locations. Previous estimates suggested approximately 500 such classrooms are distributed across 300 schools, but auditors were forced to gather data directly from local school boards due to poor internal record-keeping. The report warns that this practice creates issues regarding structural safety, educational quality, and potential future fiscal burdens. Consequently, the reliance on these structures has replaced the need for permanent, properly maintained facilities.