Nicosia, Cyprus. Final-year students and parents of the English School in Nicosia will hold a protest on Friday outside the school and the nearby Presidential Palace over the cancellation of the traditional graduation ceremony. The ceremony was cancelled in May after an overnight celebration organised by the graduating class ended in significant vandalism, according to school officials.
Cancellation after celebration damage
The school said the annual overnight “pinta” celebration, held to mark the end of school, resulted in damage that led to the cancellation of the usual graduation event. There will now be only a presentation of diplomas without the traditional celebratory activities.
Politis reported that the damage included graffiti, abusive messages directed at staff members and the school administration, and overturned furniture.
Students involved and school response
According to the school, between 50 and 70 students took part in the celebration, while the graduating class has about 160 students in total.
Politis reported that the school was unable to identify the individual perpetrators despite the presence of security cameras and a security guard, as some students wore masks and hoods.
After the incident, the school administration gave participating students an opportunity to come forward voluntarily and admit wrongdoing. When no students did so, the administration decided to cancel the traditional graduation ceremony.
Parents seek intervention
In a statement, some parents said the entire graduating class should not be affected when most students did not participate in the incident. They said the graduation ceremony is important and noted that some families had already made travel plans to attend.
Parents and students are now calling on President Nikos Christodoulides to intervene and reconsider the cancellation.
School governance
Although the English School is a private school, its buildings are state property and its Board of Directors is appointed by the Council of Ministers, which is chaired by the President.
