Teachers’ trade union Oelmek on Monday condemned an incident in which it said a parent of a pupil at a high school in Limassol entered the premises and attempted to attack a teacher.

It said that “a parent entered the school and proceeded to make insults, make serious threats, and attempt a physical attack on a teacher”, and that “similar worrying incidents were recorded in other schools”.

“Such behaviours are unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. They directly harm the prestige of the state school, create a climate of fear and insecurity, and undermine the pedagogical mission of education,” it said.

It added that “the safety of teachers and all members of the school community is non-negotiable”, and as such demanded the “immediate taking of all necessary measures” on the part of the education ministry and of the police to prevent such incidents from occurring.

Those measures, it said, must include “the implementation of clear and binding protocols for the management of incidents of violence or by third parties against teachers”.

“Cooperation between schools and families is necessary, but it requires mutual respect, dialogue and adherence to the laws. No form of violence or intimidation against teachers will be tolerated,” it said.