Teachers’ unions POED, OELMEK and OLTEK have announced a joint protest outside the Presidential Palace, escalating their opposition to proposed changes to Cyprus’ teacher appointment system.
The demonstration will take place on Thursday, 8 October at 5pm, while the three unions will hold a joint press conference three days earlier, on Monday, 5 October, to present their positions and outline further action.
Unions accuse government of failing teachers
The three organisations criticised the Education Ministry and the government for pressing ahead with legislative changes which, they argue, fail to safeguard the employment prospects of teachers who have served in public schools for years.
“It is unacceptable to consider their service necessary for schools to operate, but insufficient when it comes to safeguarding their employment future,” the unions said.
They argue that thousands of affected teachers continue to face prolonged uncertainty over their employment prospects.
‘Running down the clock’
POED, OELMEK and OLTEK also accused the Education Ministry of delaying efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement.
They said neither the 29 July working document nor subsequent verbal statements amount to a complete proposal containing specific safeguards for affected teachers.
The unions further accused the government of “running down the clock” for the past three years, leaving outstanding issues unresolved and prolonging what they described as the “employment captivity” of affected teachers.
They identified the position of teachers employed on indefinite-term contracts as another serious unresolved issue, arguing that these educators remain inadequately protected.
The unions stressed that teachers included on either of the two appointment lists are not simply numbers on a register.
They are people, the organisations said, who have worked for years in public education, accumulated professional experience and covered permanent needs within schools.
Concerns over school staffing
The unions also warned that the arrangements proposed so far leave critical questions unanswered and could cause staffing problems in public schools from 2027 onwards.
Any consequences resulting from unresolved issues or inadequate arrangements would ultimately be borne by pupils and teachers, they said.
POED, OELMEK and OLTEK also rejected government assurances regarding the possible inclusion of affected teachers in a temporary mechanism designed to cover emergency staffing requirements.
They stressed that placement in such a mechanism does not amount to securing a teacher’s employment future.
Press conference on 5 October
The three organisations will set out their positions in detail during their joint press conference on 5 October, when they will also present the framework for their next steps.
The protest will follow outside the Presidential Palace on 8 October at 5pm.
Further details concerning the demonstration and any additional industrial or protest action will be announced in the coming period.
