Cypriot teachers announce protests over appointment system reforms

Major teacher unions in Cyprus, namely POED, OELMEK, and OLTEK, have announced a joint protest outside the Presidential Palace on October 8, 2026, at 17:00. This escalation follows unsuccessful negotiations with the Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Athena Michaelidou, regarding proposed reforms to the teacher appointment system. The unions will also hold a press conference on October 5 to detail their grievances and future actions.

The core of the dispute involves government plans to abolish the current appointment list and introduce new legislative regulations. Unions argue that these changes fail to secure the professional future of long-serving teachers and leave many in a state of employment uncertainty. Furthermore, the ministry has reportedly rejected a proposal to protect indefinite-term teachers from potential redundancy, raising concerns about school staffing stability from 2027 onwards.

While the unions claim the ministry has been stalling for three years without providing an updated, comprehensive proposal, Minister Michaelidou has publicly responded by stating that the government has already addressed many of their demands. She further noted that the ministry refuses to operate under pressure or threats of blackmail, highlighting the deepening divide between the state and teaching staff.