Teachers unions protest new appointment system in Cyprus

On October 8, 2026, members of Cyprus' primary and secondary education unions, POED, OELMEC, and OLTEK, gathered outside the Presidential Palace in Nicosia to protest the government's proposed teacher appointment system. The unions argue that the current proposal fails to address the job insecurity of temporary and contract teachers and lacks a substantive path toward permanent employment. A primary point of contention is the ministry's plan to phase out the existing appointment registry by August 31, 2027, in favor of a system based on examinations.

Education Minister Athena Michaelidou characterized the protest as excessive, stating that the ministry is already engaged in a constructive dialogue. She defended the reform as essential for ensuring the quality of education and noted that the ministry cannot grant automatic permanent status to all current staff. The unions submitted a memorandum to President Nikos Christodoulides, demanding an immediate, fairer, and more comprehensive proposal that secures the rights of teachers with existing service and corrects systemic distortions.

While police were deployed to manage traffic and security at the protest, no major incidents were reported. The government maintains that it is working to resolve administrative issues before the 2027 transition deadline, while the unions continue to insist that their concerns regarding professional stability and future school staffing remain unmet.