Cypriot students stage walkout over school conditions

On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, secondary school students across Cyprus, organized by the Pancyprian Coordinating Committee of Students (PSEM), staged a walkout during the fourth teaching period. The protest, timed to coincide with a meeting of the parliamentary Education Committee, highlights deep-seated frustration regarding inadequate school infrastructure, specifically the delayed installation of air conditioning systems. While the government had initially aimed for completion by the end of 2026, PSEM reports that officials have now pushed this deadline to 2028, sparking widespread dissatisfaction.

Beyond air conditioning, students are demanding improved safety in aging buildings, a reduction in the curriculum workload, and consistent enforcement of policies allowing summer attire, such as shorts, which many schools currently restrict despite official ministry guidelines. The students argue that humane conditions are a necessity for effective learning.

Education Minister Athina Michailidou has expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue, stating that infrastructure upgrades are part of an ongoing reform. Meanwhile, the teachers' union, OELMEK, has voiced its support for the students, noting that many of the concerns—particularly regarding classroom heat—are shared by educators and represent critical health and safety issues, though the union maintains that losing teaching time is not an ideal solution.