The education ministry and Disy have assured they are on the same page, following a week of public disagreements over preparations for the new academic year.

Education Minister Athena Michaelidou said she had “a very constructive meeting” on Friday with Disy President Annita Demetriou and a party delegation, during which they discussed government policies and measures aimed at modernising public schools.

Michaelidou outlined the ministry’s priorities for the new school year and expressed gratitude for Disy’s proposals. “We confirmed we are on the same wavelength,” she said, noting that her ministry remains open to future suggestions.

When asked about specific concerns, Michaelidou mentioned that schools had been instructed on managing the weight of students’ backpacks by limiting the number of books they carry and promoting the use of ebooks.

She also assured that any outstanding issues would be addressed in the coming days, including the completion of staffing for the new academic year.

Speaking on behalf of Disy, MP Giorgos Karoulas said education was a top priority for the party and that both sides agreed to meet more often.

“The challenges before us are many and through cooperation we can achieve the best possible result for the society of tomorrow,” he added.

Karoulas also mentioned that Disy received responses to questions raised during a recent press conference, particularly on increasing the number of day-long schools and including air conditioning provisions in the 2025 budget.