Concerns over strict dismissal times in Cypriot all-day schools

Parents of students attending all-day schools in Cyprus are expressing significant frustration regarding the strict enforcement of dismissal times. Many parents report being denied requests to collect their children even a few minutes before the official end of the program, which typically concludes at 15:05 or 16:00. This policy has prevented children from attending essential extracurricular activities, including speech and occupational therapy sessions, resulting in significant scheduling conflicts and missed developmental support.

The issue recently reached the parliamentary Education Committee. Representative Yiannis Ioannou of the Pancyprian Confederation of Parents of Primary Education stated that the organization receives daily complaints on the matter. One specific case involved ten students at the Meneou school who were withdrawn from the all-day program because they were not permitted to leave five minutes early. Another report highlighted a student whose private speech therapy session was reduced from 45 minutes to just 20 minutes due to these rigid school dismissal protocols.

While the Ministry of Education has reportedly cited staffing shortages as a challenge in managing flexible schedules, the Confederation of Parents is currently awaiting a resolution following their discussions with the legislative committee. The situation remains a point of contention as parents seek greater flexibility to accommodate their children's therapeutic and developmental needs outside of the school environment.