Special education should be provided in private schools as well, the office of the commissioner for administration and protection of human rights (ombudswoman) said in a report made public on Friday, following a complaint that a private school had refused to accommodate a student with a disability.

As a result, the student was obliged to leave the school.

The ombudswoman’s report said the school had not only failed to implement regulations set by the school itself and approved by the education ministry, but had downright refused to do so.

The complaint had been submitted in November 2025 by the student’s mother, who said that the private school in Limassol had refused to provide “reasonable accommodation” for her son, namely an escort.

“This resulted in the termination of the child’s attendance at the school in question, on the grounds of his failure to meet the requirements of the class and his inability to functionally integrate into the school environment,” the report explained.

The ombudswoman’s office said students with disabilities attending private schools has been a long-standing concern, after complaints that either the children are not provided with an escort or are but had to pay for the service out of their own pocket.

Escorts and special services for students with disabilities are provided free of charge by the state in public schools.

The office also cited one of its previous reports, in which it pointed out the need for private schools to ensure the provision of such reasonable accommodations, including employment assistances at no additional cost to the parents.

The education ministry has requested a legal opinion from the Law Office regarding the right of private schools to exclude special education.

In the case under consideration, the parents were willing to cover the cost of auxiliary staff and had requested the school’s cooperation with an external speech therapist and special educator, who assist the child after school – a service the school had included in its internal regulations.

The ombudswoman’s office said private schools should provide the necessary facilities for children with disabilities to ensure equal treatment and prevent the disruption of the child’s stability when it is forced to attend a different school.

The report was sent to the education ministry and to the private school in question. A copy was communicated to the association of private schools and the House education committee.