By Newsroom
Copyright philenews
The Education Ministry has expressed surprise at a nationwide student strike over air conditioning installations, stating the action harms pupils whilst government upgrades are already underway.
The Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth said the decision by the Pan-Cypriot Student Coordinating Committee (PSEM) to call for class boycotts was poorly timed, as authorities are implementing a planned programme to upgrade school buildings and install air conditioning across all education levels.
“It truly causes surprise and bewilderment that PSEM has chosen to announce a strike at this precise moment when the government and ministry are implementing with planning the requests that remained unfulfilled for years,” the ministry said in a statement.
The student action centres on demands for air conditioning installation, permission to wear short trousers, and improvements to school building facilities.
Government investment programme underway
The ministry said the government has made creating modern and humane school facilities an absolute priority for the first time, investing tens of millions of euros in projects already in progress.
Detailed planning for school extensions, improvements and new constructions is announced annually before the school year begins, with full costings published on the ministry’s website for transparency, the announcement said.
The government has taken the political decision to install and operate air conditioning in all schools across all education levels, ending what the ministry called “the outdated policy of previous years that deprived students of basic welfare conditions”.
Ministry calls for cooperation
The ministry said class boycotts do not help implementation of the works and are detrimental to students themselves.
“What is needed now is support and cooperation from students, parents and educators so that the work in progress can be completed smoothly and in the best possible way,” the statement said.
The ministry emphasised its doors remain open for dialogue on any issues concerning students, calling for responsible participation and constructive discussion rather than strikes whilst infrastructure projects proceed according to specific timetables.
School Boards are currently implementing air conditioning installations across all districts and education levels as part of the government’s priority programme.
