Cypriot schools face supply shortages and infrastructure failures at start of academic year

As the new academic year begins in Cyprus, students and teachers are grappling with significant logistical challenges, including a lack of essential textbooks and missing air conditioning systems in many classrooms. The Ministry of Education reported that 15 to 20 out of 650 required textbooks are currently unavailable due to the failure of two contractors to meet their obligations. To mitigate the impact, the government has arranged for the Government Printing Office to produce interim color booklets for subjects like Mathematics, Science, History, and Religion, with the full distribution of textbooks expected by mid-October.

Simultaneously, teachers' unions POED and OELMEK have expressed severe frustration, citing that government promises to install air conditioning in all classrooms within a three-year period remain unfulfilled. Educators and students are also contending with the continued use of inadequate, prefabricated classrooms. Union representatives have criticized the reliance on makeshift solutions such as photocopying materials, describing it as an environmental and educational burden. Following these developments, the Parliamentary Education Committee has scheduled a session for next Wednesday to demand answers regarding the accountability of officials and the establishment of clear, binding timelines for infrastructure improvements.