Larnaca, Cyprus. The head of the city’s parents’ association, Costas Costa, said building new schools in Larnaca is imperative and called for all classrooms to be equipped with air conditioning by May, adding that no further delays would be accepted.
Overcrowding raised with education minister
Costa said the association met the education minister on January 22 to discuss severe overcrowding in Larnaca’s schools. He said the city’s four gymnasiums are operating at 130 per cent of capacity, while its four lyceums are running at 170 per cent.
He added that new schools must be built to accommodate the growing student population.
Electrical systems and heating problems
Costa said most school buildings have outdated electrical systems that cannot support air conditioning units. He said this issue last week left two schools without heating.
CCTV installation and concerns over delinquency
Costa expressed concern over red tape for installing CCTV systems, saying installation was proceeding at top-priority schools. He said the measure had contributed to reducing damage caused during the night.
He said the education ministry acknowledges a problem with delinquency in schools and that the association raised the issue with the education minister. He also referred to organised crime in Larnaca, saying schools are part of society and are directly affected by broader developments.
Call for higher-risk designation and additional measures
Costa said the education ministry has a special team to deal with delinquency, but added that schools with a serious problem should be declared high-danger and more measures taken.
What measures do you think should be prioritised to address overcrowding and delinquency in Larnaca’s schools?
