Building new schools in Larnaca is imperative, the head of the city’s parents’ association, Costas Costa, said on Monday, stressing that all classrooms must be equipped with air conditioning by May and that no further delays will be accepted.

Costa said the association met the education minister on January 22 to discuss severe overcrowding in Larnaca’s schools, noting that the city’s four gymnasiums are operating at 130 per cent of capacity, while its four lyceums are running at 170 per cent.

He added that it was imperative to build new schools to accommodate the growing student population.

Costa added that most school buildings have outdated electrical systems that cannot support air conditioning units, a problem which last week left two schools without heating.

The head of the association also expressed concern over the red tape for installing CCTV systems, saying that their installation was going ahead at top priority schools. This measure, he added, had contributed to the reduction of damage caused during the night.

“The education ministry admits that there is a problem with delinquency in schools. As a parents and guardians association, we are very concerned over this specific issue, which we raised with the education minister,” Costa said.

He particularly referred to organised crime in Larnaca. Schools are part of society and directly affected by everything that is happening, he explained.

Costa said the education ministry had a special team to deal with delinquency, however “schools with a serious problem should be declared high-danger and more measures taken”.