Nicosia, Cyprus. Education Minister Athena Michaelidou announced plans to introduce social worker services in selected pilot schools in 2026 as part of efforts to tackle school violence and delinquency. She said the initiative will also aim to strengthen the mental resilience of pupils and teachers.
Holistic approach and 2026 priorities
Michaelidou said the measure forms part of a broader “holistic” approach to making schools more effective and inclusive. She added that boosting mental resilience has been set as one of the education ministry’s main priorities for 2026, with schools soon expected to host both educational psychologists and social workers.
Support for pupils and teachers
The minister said the aim is to address issues of violence and delinquency while supporting the wellbeing of both children and teachers.
Manuals, school teams, and strengthened counselling roles
Michaelidou said the ministry has compiled protocols and recommendations into manuals to assist teachers, which are being distributed in printed and electronic form. She added that efforts have been intensified so that core groups—teams of teachers responsible for violence and delinquency for both prevention and response—operate within schools.
She said the roles of school counsellors and class teachers are being strengthened, citing ministry data showing they are effective because pupils trust them and confide their concerns in them. In this role, she said, the teacher serves not only as a subject instructor but also as an advisor who discusses issues that concern pupils.
Security measures and cooperation with families
Michaelidou said the ministry continues to invest in cameras, which she said have proven effective after school hours, as well as in security officers placed in many secondary schools. She stressed that tackling violence and delinquency is also a family matter and underlined the importance of cooperation with parents’ associations.
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