Government prepares revised teacher appointment reform proposal

Nicosia, Cyprus. Education Minister Athina Michaelidou said on Wednesday that the government is preparing an updated proposal to reform the teacher appointment system, as unions warned they would oppose changes they believe could leave experienced teachers without permanent jobs.

The ministry is consulting educational organisations and aims to finalise the proposal in autumn, before the existing appointment list is abolished on September 1 next year.

Transition to examination-based system

Speaking after a meeting of the House education committee, Michaelidou said the current system allows teachers to join an appointment list and wait for permanent employment in public schools.

Legislation introduced reforms to gradually replace the list with a system based on examinations, with the transition scheduled to conclude in 2027.

Michaelidou said the government would not reverse the reform, asking whether a system considered anachronistic in 2015 could still be regarded as appropriate today.

Recognition of experienced teachers

She said the government would address issues that emerged during the transition while maintaining examinations as the route to permanent appointments.

“We are correcting the distortions of the exams on the one hand and on the other hand we are regulating things so that we do not lose the teachers who are already in the schools,” she said.

Michaelidou said teachers with substantial public education experience, including contract workers and substitutes, would be recognised under the new arrangements.

Teachers who already have indefinite contracts would continue working, she said, while those seeking permanent employment would need to obtain permanent status through the examination process.

Union opposition

The issue has led to renewed disagreement between the education ministry and teachers’ unions.