Lack of Interest from Teachers for Optional All-Day Schools in Cyprus

Optional All-Day Schools are set to begin next Monday, an institution supported by POED. However, the President of the organization, Myria Vasiliou, expressed concern about the lack of interest from teachers to be appointed to these schools.

"We are very concerned about the fact that there has been a lack of interest from teachers to express interest and be appointed to the Optional All-Day Schools," Ms. Vasiliou stated in statements to CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY, adding that part-time contracts do not guarantee a decent salary.

POED is asking the Ministry of Education to take responsibility and recognize the problem. Ms. Vasiliou stressed that full-time contracts are the only way to generate interest from teachers, especially if the Government's goal is for all schools to become Optional All-Day Schools.

In addition, POED expresses concern about the lack of interest from substitutes as well, which will lead to understaffing of school units. The organization calls for the establishment of a labor framework that acts as an incentive for substitutes.

Finally, Ms. Vasiliou reiterated that it is not enough just to install air conditioners in the classrooms, but the necessary procedures must be taken to make them work. She called for accelerating efforts to install and operate air conditioners in all classrooms by May 2026.

Source: CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY