Consultations and discussions with all stakeholders are to take place over the summer on the issue of teacher evaluations, a proposal rejected by the unions at the end of May.

The delay was sanctioned by the House education committee on Wednesday with MPs agreeing that further discussions would be held over the next two months.

During the meeting, Education Minister Athena Michaelidou presented the ministry’s proposal, analysing the changes proposed in relation to the existing-outdated evaluation plan.

She warned MPs about the €60 million penalty that Cyprus risked if the new teacher evaluation system is not voted on by next October as the changes were part of the island’s EU-approved Recovery and Resilience facility though which funding would come.

Michaelidou told the committee there was now a clear timetable – to have the changes come into effect next January. She called for a “responsible stance” from teachers’ unions.

“This process is a step towards the modernisation of the educational system,” she said.

“In all cases of tabling bills, democracy requires debate. It does not require full agreement. We know this and we do not expect full agreement on all points.”

The minister said however that they ministry did expect a positive attitude from stakeholders.

“The introduction of a new, fairer, more flexible and pedagogically evidence-based system is for the benefit of our students, our teachers and the society itself that demands it,” she said.

She added that this was a system that offers meaningful feedback, enhances professional development and ensures higher quality in teaching and learning, with full respect for teachers.

Representatives of the teachers’ unions Oelmek, Poed and Oltek previously expressed their disagreements and asked MPs to return the bill to the ministry.

Speaking at the committee president of the secondary schools’ union Oelmek, Demetris Taliadoros noted “many gaps, ambiguities and grey areas in the proposals”.

“We cannot agree if these gaps are not filled,” he said.

Primary teachers’ union Poed president Myria Vassiliou said that although they too want to modernise the system, unilateral decisions by the ministry, such as the fact that the bill was tabled to parliament without informing teachers was unacceptable.

Representatives of parents’ organisations from all levels of education agreed at the committee that teacher evaluations were necessary and that a new system should be implemented that responds to the modern needs of education.

Committee Chairman Pavlos Mylonas suggested that anyone who had objections submit their disagreement in writing in the meantime.

At the end of May, the government announced sweeping reform of the teacher evaluation system, marking the most significant change to public education in decades.

The reform aimed at introducing a multi-layered, scientifically backed evaluation model, replacing the decades-old practice of single-person assessments with collective evaluations involving school heads and inspectors.

Officials said the approach will better reflect each teacher’s performance and growth.

At the heart of the reform is a shift from control to support. Evaluations were no longer a punitive measure but a continuous tool for improvement and professional development.

Teachers would be assessed throughout their careers using clearly defined, measurable criteria. Continuous training programmes were also provided for.

Two days later, an overwhelming majority of 5,286 votes, or 91.85 per cent, of members of Oelmek, the secondary school teaching union, voted against the plan.

Oelmek called on the government to “listen to the clear position of the teaching profession and withdraw the bill from parliament in order to enable a substantive and comprehensive dialogue”.

It also called on the House of Representatives to return the bill to the education ministry for a “real dialogue” aimed at reaching an agreed proposal.

In the weeks leading up to the referendum, the union said that there had been no substantial discussion with teachers, as required by law.