The House education committee announced on Wednesday that schools and nurseries will soon be required to inform parents if their child is absent, as a new government decree is expected in the coming days.

The committee’s discussion highlighted gaps in the current system, particularly in early childhood education. The measure follows the tragic death of a nine-month-old baby last week. The baby was left in a car all day by its mother who thought she had dropped her child off at nursery.

According to the committee’s deputy chairman, Chrysanthos Savvides, secondary schools already notify parents when a student is absent. However, there has been no such requirement for children under the age of four, as attendance at nurseries and kindergartens is not compulsory.

“The gap exists in early childhood education, where attendance is not mandatory. Until now, notifying parents was left to the discretion of individual nurseries,” Savvides said.

He confirmed that the deputy ministry of social welfare is preparing a decree to make notification mandatory. Akel MP Andreas Kafkalias welcomed the decision but criticised the government for acting only after a tragedy.

“This is the right step, but it comes after a tragic event. We need an urgent review of current regulations, with legislative changes if necessary, to ensure better safety measures,” he said.

Kavkalias stressed the need for a comprehensive legal framework covering all aspects of child protection, education and welfare. He urged the government to present concrete proposals soon.

Dipa MP Alekos Tryfonides echoed these concerns, calling for a single law covering all educational institutions, both public and private.

“At present, different rules apply to primary, secondar, and private schools. We need one unified law that specifies how and when parents are informed, and how authorities should respond to prolonged absences,” he said.

Tryfonides warned that if no legislation is introduced within a month, lawmakers will push forward their own proposal.

The decree is expected to take immediate effect, with government officials indicating it could be issued as early as Thursday.

“Since procedures already exist for primary and secondary schools, the government is moving quickly to close the gap for private and public nurseries catering to children under four,” Tryfonides said.

He also called for clear penalties for those failing to comply, including school staff, parents, and authorities.

“The safety of our children is non-negotiable. We must ensure this system works effectively,” he added.
The decree is expected to bring a crucial change in child safety, ensuring that no absence goes unnoticed and reducing the risk of future tragedies.