Cyprus Education Ministry presents 2027 budget amid school infrastructure concerns

The Cypriot Ministry of Education, Sports, and Youth, led by Minister Athena Michaelidou, presented its 2027 budget to the Parliamentary Committee on Finance on October 30, 2026. The budget proposes a total of €53 million for school infrastructure, marking a significant increase from €43 million in 2026 and €36 million in 2025. Despite these higher allocations, the parliamentary session focused on persistent challenges, including the reliance on prefabricated classrooms, structural project delays, and staffing shortages within technical departments. The ministry has earmarked approximately €3 million for new prefabricated classrooms and €10 million specifically for the installation of air conditioning units in schools.

Regarding the air conditioning initiative, Minister Michaelidou confirmed that units are fully installed in all lyceums, with high completion rates in gymnasiums and elementary schools. While the goal is universal installation, the ministry noted limited exceptions for certain mountain schools and buildings with severe structural issues requiring electrical upgrades. Authorities are accelerating inspection and installation processes during the winter to ensure functional cooling systems in a broader number of schools by April and May 2027. The ministry is currently managing 23 large-scale infrastructure projects aimed at addressing long-standing structural deficits accumulated over previous years.