Developments regarding the teacher appointment system in Cyprus

The Cypriot Ministry of Education is preparing a proposal to reform the teacher appointment system ahead of the mandatory abolition of the current appointment list by August 2027. Minister of Education Athina Michailidou confirmed that the transition is based on legislation enacted ten years ago. The Ministry is considering a proposal to transfer existing teachers to a closed list, though they would still need to pass examinations to secure permanent status. Teacher unions POED, OELMEK, and OLTEK have scheduled meetings to coordinate their stance, as they have not yet received a formal written proposal. OLTEK president Panagiotis Lysandrou stated that the unions demand the protection of current contract teachers, indefinite-contract staff, and substitutes. Furthermore, the unions request legislative amendments regarding appointment examinations to ensure existing teachers are not excluded. Many teachers expressed concerns on social media regarding potential job security risks despite their years of service.