Education minister calls teachers’ reaction to new appointment system “excessive”

Nicosia, Cyprus. Education Minister Athena Michaelidou described teachers’ organisations’ reaction to the government’s new appointment system as “excessive” on Thursday, hours before a planned protest outside the presidential palace at 5pm.

Disagreement over permanent status

Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Michaelidou said the ministry’s proposal met most of the unions’ demands. The remaining point of disagreement was automatic permanent status, “which is something we cannot do”, she said.

The minister said the ministry was already in dialogue with the unions and that she was “surprised” protests had been called. She said the decision to protest was taken “before we even gave our final proposal”.

Changes to teacher appointments

Michaelidou said the abolition of the appointment list had been decided by law in 2015 and that, from next year, only candidates who pass the examination would be admitted.

She said the long transition period had created distortions, both in the exam and for people already working in schools.

“We are correcting the distortions so that in 2027 we will have teachers to appoint,” she said.

Under the plan, a closed registry would include permanent staff and contract employees who meet set criteria. Appointments would be made 50 per cent from the registry and 50 per cent from the list of candidates who have passed the exam, with permanent posts then available through the exam.