Blind students stranded and protesting over unsafe bus transport in Cyprus

The Cyprus Association of the Blind has raised alarms regarding the safety and suitability of the 20-seat minibus used by the Ministry of Education to transport approximately 25 visually impaired students from the Larnaca and Famagusta provinces to the School for the Blind in Nicosia. Over the past two years, students have complained about mechanical failures, faulty doors, broken windows, and worn seats. Tensions escalated following recent incidents, including one where seven students were forced to disembark on a busy road in Aradippou due to a breakdown, and others reported being left stranded without assistance.

On October 22, 2026, the Department of Road Transport (TOM) intervened at the School for the Blind, prohibiting 11 students from boarding a bus that had not undergone required safety checks. The authorities compelled the transport company to arrange alternative travel, resulting in the students returning to their homes by taxi. The Cyprus Confederation of Organizations of the Disabled (KYSYAA) has joined the call for immediate replacement of the fleet. While some reports suggest the school had requested improvements, the Association of the Blind maintains that authorities have remained largely unresponsive to their long-standing safety concerns.