Ministry of Finance denies request for additional educational psychologists

The Cypriot Ministry of Finance has officially rejected a request from the Ministry of Education to create new educational psychologist positions for the 2027 budget. In a letter addressed to Savia Orphanidou, president of the Parliamentary Health Committee, Finance Ministry Director General Andreas Zachariadis stated that no fiscal space remains for such expansions, as the ministry has reached its pre-approved expenditure ceilings. This decision comes despite concerns over rising school bullying, delinquency, and student mental health pressures.

Currently, each educational psychologist is responsible for approximately 1,800 students and 13 schools. While the Finance Ministry highlighted a 70% increase in staff over the past five years—growing from 42 positions—the current staffing levels are deemed insufficient by the Parliamentary Health Committee. Savia Orphanidou expressed dissatisfaction with the Finance Ministry’s response, signaling that the committee will continue to push for increased staffing despite the government's insistence that the education sector must reallocate existing resources within its fixed budget. The issue remains a point of friction between the legislative body and the finance department, with no immediate resolution planned for the 2027 cycle.