Parliament on Monday passed amendments to the teacher evaluation regulations, to include assessment criteria, a move welcomed by Education Minister Athena Michaelides.

The minister said in a post on X that Monday’s approval of the criteria was “another step forward in the implementation of the education system reforms”.

During the plenum, 26 MPs voted in favour of the criteria and 11 against. A verbal amendment tabled by Disy was also passed with 22 votes in favour and 13 against.

The evaluation regulations were passed by the House plenum in December 2025, but did not include the evaluation criteria.

Independent MP Alexandra Attalides said the education system was trapped in another era and that it was imperative to adapt and evolve, particularly when faced with the challenge of artificial intelligence.

Diko MP Chrysanthos Savvides said this was the most important reform in the past 50 years.

Akel’s Christos Christofides said this was a complicated matter and discussions lacked clarity, which was why his party would be voting against.

Other MPs said it would have been better if the criteria had been ready when the reform was voted in.

House president and Disy leader Annita Demetriou said her party had supported the reform but this was not a blank cheque, and called for a roadmap for the implementation of the reforms.