Parliamentary committee discusses critical infrastructure issues in Cyprus schools

On October 7, 2026, the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Culture in Cyprus conducted a hearing regarding the deteriorating state of school infrastructure. Chairman Chrysanthos Savvides reported that there are approximately 469 prefabricated classrooms currently in use across the country, which equates to the capacity needs of about 20 new school units. This reliance on temporary structures is expected to worsen in pre-primary education as entry age limits are lowered.

Participants, including parliament members and stakeholders, highlighted severe shortcomings in athletic facilities, accessibility for students with disabilities, and the lack of proper safety certification for many school buildings. Representatives noted that some athletic fields are in unusable condition, described as mere fields, and stressed that existing school ramps and elevators often fail to meet accessibility standards.

During the session, it was revealed that the Ministry’s Technical Services are severely understaffed, operating with approximately 30 employees instead of the required 60. Lawmakers, including AKEL’s Christos Christofides, pointed out that the 2027 budget allocation remains lower than 2011 levels, despite construction costs having doubled. The committee has formally requested that the Ministry of Education provide a full audit of school facilities and establish clear, long-term timelines to resolve these infrastructure deficiencies.