Cyprus education ministry launches public consultation on teacher appointment reforms

The Cypriot Ministry of Education, Sports, and Youth has officially opened a public consultation regarding a draft law aimed at modernizing the national teacher appointment system. The legislation, titled “The Public Educational Service (Amending) Law of 2026,” alongside new regulations for entrance examinations and ranking, is available for feedback on the e-consultation.gov.cy platform until November 18, 2026.

This initiative follows extensive dialogues with educational organizations, which remain divided on several aspects of the proposal. A primary point of contention, characterized by unions as a “red line,” is the government's push to alter current hiring protocols, specifically concerning the demand for permanent appointments without competitive examinations. The proposed reforms include adjustments to candidate exam participation, the abolition of the minimum passing grade, and changes to the statistical processing of results.

The ministry intends to advance the bill to the House of Representatives by late November or early December 2026. The reform is presented as a strategic effort to enhance the quality of education, though the ongoing disagreement between the ministry and the teachers' unions suggests that legislative approval may face significant challenges.