Parents’ associations of pupils at public schools in Ypsonas, Cyprus, have filed an official complaint with the labour inspection department over construction work at the schools. They described the situation as unsafe for children and warned of possible joint action with Kourion schools, Cyprus Mail reports.
Demands to the ministry
The coordinating committee of parents’ associations has given the Ministry of Education until 10 September to respond positively to its demands. Otherwise, the parents plan to inform the European Union about the situation, while pupils will not attend the first two lessons on 14 September.
According to the committee’s estimates, the problem affects 2,682 children. Parents say they have been sending letters and taking part in meetings for three years, but unsuitable and worn temporary modular classrooms are still located in the school yard and are used by a neighbouring school because of overcrowding.
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Need for new schools
The committee stressed that the area is developing rapidly and needs additional educational institutions. According to its data, the only lyceum in the area operates with 12 mobile classrooms. Parents’ associations said that public education is “on the verge of collapse” and called for work to be carried out strategically with clear deadlines.
In its letter to the labour inspection department dated 4 September, the committee mentioned the Education Ministry’s promises to modernise the schools and stressed that a communication strategy must not conceal existing problems. Following the appeal, the ministry promised to provide a response on the construction programme, which has been awaited for months, and to visit Ypsonas Third Public School to inspect the modular classrooms.
The parents are demanding written commitments with specific dates for the modernisation of the third kindergarten and third primary school, as well as the construction of a fourth kindergarten, fourth primary school, second gymnasium and second lyceum in Ypsonas and the wider western Limassol area. Until the projects are completed, they also demand guarantees for health and safety, suitability certificates and full fire protection for the modular classrooms.
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