Cyprus education ministry prepares for new school year amid reforms and controversy

As the 2026-2027 school year begins, Cyprus Minister of Education Athina Michailidou has outlined key administrative and pedagogical reforms, including changes to teacher appointments, evaluation systems, and special education models. During a parliamentary committee session, the Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to modernizing the education system, noting that the current appointment framework is outdated. While the Ministry aims to abolish the existing appointment list by 2027 in favor of an exam-based system, the AKEL party has announced its intention to introduce legislation to maintain current procedures, citing concerns over potential chaos and the protection of experienced teachers.

Simultaneously, the Ministry is managing a 126-million-euro infrastructure program aimed at school expansions and the construction of new facilities. The rollout includes a pilot program for redistributing teaching hours for non-examined subjects in the first grade of Gymnasium in Paphos. Ongoing discussions with trade unions are expected to continue next week to resolve outstanding issues regarding teacher evaluation legislation. Minister Michailidou remains firm on safety protocols despite concerns about construction sites in schools and confirms that the mandate for installing air conditioning in all educational units will proceed despite logistical delays.