Students protest in Cyprus over school conditions and air conditioning delays

On September 16, 2026, students across Cyprus held a protest during the fourth teaching period, coinciding with a session of the Parliamentary Education Committee. Organized by PSEM, the students expressed frustration over inadequate school infrastructure, specifically the lack of functional air conditioning, and demanded a uniform policy allowing for summer school attire, such as shorts, to cope with high temperatures. Students also called for a reduction in the curriculum, citing that current conditions and existing workloads prevent effective learning.

Discrepancies emerged regarding the timeline for the air conditioning project. While the Ministry of Education, represented by Georgios Koutsidis, maintained that the installation project is ongoing and is expected to be 100% complete within the current school year, representatives from School Boards, such as Nikos Megalemos, argued that completion by 2026 or even 2027 is impossible due to the complexity of the necessary electrical upgrades and substation installations. Some students reported hearing projections extending as far as 2028.

The protest received support from OELMEK, the secondary school teachers' union, which emphasized that the concerns regarding health, safety, and dignity in the classroom are shared by educators. The Parliamentary Education Committee has criticized the absence of certain School Boards from the discussion and is considering stricter measures to ensure accountability.