MPs discuss issues with school overcrowding

Overcrowding and shortcomings with infrastructure are two problems facing schools highlighted in the House education committee on Wednesday as MPs began discussing the findings of their visits to secondary schools across Cyprus.

Committee president Pavlos Mylonas singled out overcrowding in some schools as a major issue that needed to be addressed as a matter of priority.

Yiorgos Karoullas of governing Disy struck an upbeat note, saying that a lot has been done and much more is being planned. The education system is a living organism, and its needs are constantly changing. The ministry had acknowledged overcrowding issues in some cases and there are medium and long term plans for new schools buildings, he added.

As regards communities in the mountains, close to the green line and remote areas, criteria must be adopted to boost local schools to enable them to survive and meet the needs created by the special conditions prevailing there.

Akel’s Christos Christofides singled out delays in the operation of all-day primary schools because of complication with tenders. He said problems at state institutes are leading to low registrations at the risk of their eventual closure and voiced concern that the government was looking to privatise early education by subsidising private kindergartens to enroll four-year-old children rather than building new facilities

Edek’s Andreas Apostolou said his party has asked the education ministry to submit details at the next committee meeting as regards schools with infrastructure problems. The party also wants to be updated on the ministry’s plans for the constriction of new schools of all levels in the immediate future, as well as its plans for energy upgrades of the schools and the installation of air conditioning.