Hundreds of students await special education assessments in Cyprus

A total of 1,227 children across Cyprus are currently waiting for assessments or decisions regarding special educational support for the 2026-2027 school year. The figures, released by Education Minister Athena Michaelidou in response to a parliamentary inquiry by Dimitris Baros, indicate that Limassol handles the highest number of pending cases with 430, followed by Nicosia with 384, Larnaca and Famagusta with 252, and Paphos with 161.

The processing time for these applications varies by region. According to the Minister, the average time from referral to implementation is three months in Nicosia and Limassol, two months in Larnaca and Famagusta, and one and a half months in Paphos. These timelines remain indicative, as the committees rely on the timely submission of required external assessments and diagnostic reports to conclude their decision-making process. The Ministry of Education is currently working on a legislative bill to address systemic issues in special education, which was the focus of the questions raised by the parliament member.