Oelmek president Demetris Taliadoros upset the House education committee on Wednesday, claiming MPs were “on the take” from private schools and was why they refused to make any changes to legislation.

The head of the secondary school teaching union Taliadoros told the committee that the accusations had been voiced on the “fifth floor” of the education ministry, where the minister and permanent secretary have their offices.

This infuriated the MPs, who demanded explanations from the education ministry, with committee chairman Pavlos Mylonas saying in no uncertain words that there would be no discussions in the presence of ministry representatives until the matter is clarified.

Speaking to the press, Mylonas quoted Taliadoros as saying that during a meeting in the minister’s presence someone claimed that “we can’t do anything with the private schools […] because some of the MPs are on the take.”

The committee decided that either the names of the MPs allegedly “on the take” would be made public and the MPs would resign, or the minister and the person who made the remark would have to apologise. If Taliadoros had made a misleading statement, then he should resign and stop being a teacher, Mylonas said.

Mylonas said the House president would also be informed.

He added that it was unthinkable that people who are handling €1.5 billion for education would behave in this manner.

“I unequivocally state that no member of the education committee is ‘on the take’ from private schools or any other organisation,” Mylonas stressed.

He said the reason the private schools were on Wednesday’s agenda was their increase in fees without informing the parents.

Disy MP Giorgos Karoullas said the education ministry should submit proposals to safeguard the quality of private education, since 23 per cent of children were in private schools, and at the same time take measures to strengthen public education.

Akel MP Andreas Kafkalias said the education ministry had failed to effectively supervise the operation of private schools and that an 11-member committee to this end was not convening as often as it should.

Dipa MP Alekos Tryfonides said it was time to amend legislation on private schools, in order to bridge gaps in supervision on an administrative and education level.