Cypriot teacher unions announce protest over appointment system reforms

Teacher unions POED, OELMEK, and OLTEK have announced a joint protest outside the Presidential Palace in Cyprus on October 8, 2026, to oppose proposed changes to the educator appointment system. The unions, which plan to hold a press conference on October 5, argue that the Ministry of Education’s current legislative plans fail to secure the employment future of long-serving teachers and exacerbate job insecurity.

Representatives claim that the Ministry, led by Minister Athena Michaelidou, has delayed the process for three years without offering a comprehensive solution. The unions specifically demand legal amendments to protect indefinite-term teachers from redundancy and criticize the potential abolition of the current appointment list, which they fear will negatively impact the quality of school staffing by 2027.

In response, Minister Athena Michaelidou labeled the protest as unnecessary, asserting that an updated proposal is currently being drafted in consultation with the Legal Service and will be provided to the unions before the scheduled protest date. She firmly stated that the government would not yield to pressure or threats, while emphasizing that progress on addressing union concerns had already been underway.