Parliamentary committee discusses critical school infrastructure shortages in Cyprus

The Parliamentary Committee on Education and Culture held a session on Wednesday to address the deteriorating state of school infrastructure across Cyprus. The discussion focused on chronic deficiencies, including the reliance on approximately 469 prefabricated classrooms, which the committee chairman, Chrysanthos Savvides, noted is equivalent to the capacity of about 20 new school buildings.

Key issues highlighted during the meeting included inadequate sports facilities, which in some cases were described as mere fields, and significant challenges regarding accessibility for students with disabilities. Furthermore, the committee raised concerns about the lack of safety certificates for various units and the urgent need for climate adaptation measures, such as the installation of air conditioning, thermal insulation, and shading, given the extreme temperatures in Cyprus.

The committee warned that these infrastructure pressures are expected to escalate, particularly within pre-primary education, due to upcoming changes in age-of-entry requirements. In response to these findings, the Parliament has formally requested that the Ministry provide specific, binding timelines for resolving these persistent issues. Stakeholders are advocating for increased funding, the reinforcement of Technical Services, and the implementation of a comprehensive long-term planning strategy.