Cyprus parliamentary committee debates reform of school aide system for disabled students

On October 14, 2026, the Parliamentary Education Committee in Cyprus held a session to discuss the systemic failures and necessary legislative reforms concerning school aides for students with disabilities. The discussion addressed concerns regarding low monthly salaries of 900 euros, the lack of standardized training, and the reliance on local school boards for management. Critics, including Themis Anthopoulou of KYSYAA and Gioula Pitsiali of Agkalia Elpidas, argued that the current system fails to provide exclusive support for children with severe needs, such as quadriplegia or epilepsy, often forcing one aide to assist multiple students or leaving vacancies unfilled.

While the Ministry of Education reported an increase in the number of aides from 1,875 last year to 2,165 this year, lawmakers and advocates highlighted that these figures include personnel not yet deployed. The session emphasized the need to transfer oversight from local school boards directly to the Ministry of Education to ensure consistency. Advocacy groups warned that the current structure treats aides as general school staff rather than specialized support, ultimately depriving students of their fundamental right to education. The committee continues to evaluate legislative proposals to create a clear professional framework and improve the timely assignment of staff, with calls for decisions to be finalized by May each year.