Proposal for Student Welfare Reform Submitted to Finance Minister

The President of the "Isotita" union, Prodromos Christofi, submitted a proposal to the Minister of Finance, Makis Keraunos, for the reform of state student welfare.

The proposal includes the restructuring of the institutional framework of student welfare in Cyprus, with an emphasis on creating a unified, state mechanism. It is based on the findings of the Special Reports of the Audit Office (ΥΟ/01/2025 and ΕΕ-ΕΥ 40/2025) and the analysis of the existing legal framework.

The four pillars of the proposal are:

• Administrative Unification: Absorption of the Cyprus State Scholarship Foundation (IKYK) and the Independent Social Support Agency (AFKS) by the Grant and Benefit Service (ΥΧΕ).
• Fiscal Transparency: Abolition of the inflow of private funds into social support funds.
• Separation of Excellence and Need: Social policy to be exercised through the ΥΧΕ, while scholarships concern academic excellence.
• Digital Transformation: Unified digital platform for serving citizens.

Mr. Christofi notes that the proposal aims to restore public confidence and ensure transparency and efficiency.