Cypriot teacher unions coordinate response to proposed appointment system

Teacher unions in Cyprus, including POED, OELMEK, and OLTEK, are coordinating their stance on a new educator appointment system proposed by the Ministry of Education. Following meetings held on August 25, 2026, the unions are preparing to engage in individual consultations with Minister of Education Athina Michaelidou to discuss the proposal, which was initially provided in late July.

The core of the debate centers on the transition mandated by 2015 legislation, which dictates that the current "appointments list" will be abolished on August 31, 2027. This change terminates the existing transitional regime, which currently splits appointments equally between the list of appointed and eligible teachers. The unions demand legislative amendments to ensure adequate staffing of public schools beyond 2027 and express firm opposition to the "victimization" of any educator, including temporary staff and those on current lists.

Following the internal coordination meeting, the organizations scheduled separate sessions with the Minister: OELMEK on August 27, POED on August 31, and OLTEK on September 1. The Minister of Education has expressed openness to clarifying administrative procedures and addressing stakeholder concerns to ensure a transparent implementation of the new framework.