AKIDA calls for transparent framework for teacher secondments in Cyprus

The Independent Movement of Teachers, Kindergarten Teachers and Special Educators (AKIDA) has publicly demanded the establishment of a clear and binding framework for the secondment of teachers within the Cypriot public education system. On September 6, 2026, the movement reported that this issue has remained an unresolved problem for decades, contributing to chronic lack of transparency, meritocracy, and severe school staffing shortages.

Elpiniki Manoli, the president of AKIDA, stated that the current process undermines the administrative hierarchy of schools, as many principals and assistant principals remain seconded either fully or partially. While previous criteria for secondment included five years of public school service, advanced degrees, and language or computer skills, the selection process remains opaque because the specific weighting or reasoning behind choosing one candidate over another is not disclosed to the public or the applicants.

AKIDA officially submitted the issue for discussion to the POED collective bodies on August 23, 2026, noting that it had first requested this debate in August 2025 without receiving a comprehensive response. The movement argues that without structural reform, the system will continue to suffer from poor management and inequity, and they are now pressing the state to implement the necessary legislative and procedural changes.