Cyprus Minister of Education discusses reforms and school year readiness

On September 1-2, 2026, the Cypriot Minister of Education, Athina Michailidou, held a series of meetings with educational staff and the Parliamentary Education Committee to outline reforms for the upcoming school year. Key initiatives include a new teacher appointment system, revisions to special education, and the implementation of formative assessment. The Ministry faces criticism regarding delays in the new teacher appointment legislation and the bill on special education, which is now expected by the end of September. Minister Michailidou highlighted that while the 2015 legislation requires the abolition of the teacher appointment list by 2027, total reliance on examination-based hiring risks creating staff shortages.

Controversy also emerged regarding school infrastructure and personnel management. The Ministry is investing 126 million euros in school building upgrades, including new facilities and air conditioning, though safety protocols are causing implementation delays. Simultaneously, teacher unions and political parties, including AKEL, have expressed concerns over potential chaos in the hiring process and the legislative constraints on school principals' roles in the numerical assessment of teachers. The Minister plans to submit updated legislative proposals to Parliament following ongoing consultations with unions.