OELMEK opposes education ministry reform as hundreds of teachers await postings

As the 2026-2027 school year approaches, approximately 900 teachers in Cyprus remain without school assignments, causing significant concerns regarding the upcoming academic cycle. OELMEK, the secondary school teachers' union, confirmed that this group consists of 700 contract teachers and 200 probationary staff, creating uncertainty for school preparations just days before the first bell.

Simultaneously, tensions have escalated between the union and the Ministry of Education regarding a new teacher appointment system. OELMEK has officially rejected the ministry's proposal to abolish the appointment lists by 2027. The union argues that the current system already faces staffing shortages, citing data for the 2026-2027 year where over 300 philologists were appointed despite only 23 being available in the candidate lists, and nearly 250 mathematics teachers were hired with only 80 listed. The union contends that the removal of these lists would make school staffing impossible in several subjects.

The negotiations are currently at a standstill as the Ministry of Education and OELMEK remain at odds. The union insists on a revised text that addresses their concerns regarding labor uncertainty and better protects affected staff. Discussions are expected to continue as both sides seek a resolution to the ongoing disagreement over the legislative framework.