Cypriot students to hold solidarity protests with French counterparts

The Pancyprian Coordinating Committee of Students (PSEM) has announced that pupils across Cyprus will hold symbolic acts of solidarity on Thursday, 5 November. The protests are scheduled to take place during the second break of the school day to show support for French students who have been demonstrating since 17 September.

French students are currently protesting against a 41 million euro reduction in the national education budget. Their primary demands include the hiring of additional teachers to compensate for lost instructional hours, the renovation and modernization of school infrastructure, and greater student involvement in institutional decision-making. PSEM officials emphasized that these grievances mirror the challenges faced by students in Cyprus, where the movement continues to advocate for fully public, free, and accessible education for all.

While the demonstrations in France have been ongoing since mid-September, the Cypriot student response is focused on a unified, one-day symbolic gesture. PSEM maintains that the lack of resources and teaching personnel results in educational gaps, asserting that remedial support should be provided by the state rather than through private costs incurred by families.