Students in Cyprus to walk out of classes over air-conditioning delays
Secondary school students in Cyprus have been called on to leave classes on Wednesday in protest over delays in installing air conditioners, school infrastructure safety problems and the large volume of material for exams. The action was announced by the PSEM National Coordinating Committee of Students, Cyprus Mail reports.
The protest is to take place during the fourth lesson and coincide with a meeting of the parliamentary education committee. PSEM said that one week after the start of the new school year, a number of issues raised by the organisation had still not been resolved.
Delays with air conditioners
The organisation is particularly concerned about delays in installing air conditioners in classrooms. According to PSEM, assurances had previously been made that the project would be completed by the end of this year. At the same time, the student organisation believes that President Nikos Christodoulides, in previous statements, shifted the deadline for implementing the plan to the end of the government's term, by 2028.
According to the education ministry, progress in equipping schools with air conditioning varies significantly by district. In Famagusta, 65% of primary schools are fully equipped, while the figure is 16% in Paphos and 24% in Nicosia.
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Safety and examination material
PSEM also said that some schools still restrict the wearing of shorts, despite ministry circulars allowing it. The organisation drew attention to safety problems at certain institutions and claims that infrastructure shortcomings affecting students have not been addressed for years.
In addition, PSEM called excessive the volume of material that pupils must study for exams, despite promises to reduce it. The organisation accused the ministry of ignoring student appeals and demands that the amount of study material be reduced and that students' views be taken into account.
Education Minister Athena Michaelidou had stated that the government still intends to equip all schools with air conditioning. She stressed that the work must be carried out safely, as the outdated electrical grid in some buildings needs to be upgraded before taking on an additional load.
