Teachers to proceed with protest over appointment reforms

Nicosia, Cyprus. Teachers said on Wednesday they would proceed with Thursday’s planned protest outside the presidential palace over the education ministry’s revised proposal on teacher appointment reforms. Education Minister Athena Michaelidou defended the proposal as fair and balanced.

Teachers retain objections

Oelmek chairman Constantinos Constantinou said the updated proposal modified some points, but teachers continued to disagree on fundamental issues.

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RelatedTeachers’ unions Poed, Oelmek and Oltek weigh industrial action over school appointment bill

He said the concern centred on the prospect of permanent employment for teachers employed on indefinite terms and contracts, who would be incorporated into a new closed registry.

Minister says discussions remain open

Michaelidou said that, from the ministry’s perspective, there was no deadlock and the issue remained at the debate stage.

“We had promised we would listen to everyone,” she said after a meeting with Disy president Annita Demetriou.

She said the ministry had delivered its updated proposal on Tuesday and given teachers’ organisations a week to submit written comments.

“I cannot know why they are dismissing the updated proposal as well,” Michaelidou said. She stressed that the proposal was fair and balanced, taking into account both people already working in schools and those who had just passed the exam.

Equal split proposed for appointments

Michaelidou explained that the revised proposal would provide for half of new teachers to be appointed from the closed registry and half from the list of those eligible for appointment.

The unions, she added, “appear not to want the 50:50 arrangement”.