A scheduled meeting between the Education Ministry and the Cyprus Primary Teachers' Union (POED) on the future of the teachers' appointment list system is in jeopardy after the union said it had yet to receive the ministry's proposals in writing.
The dispute has heightened tensions over an issue that has remained unresolved for two years, with current legislation providing for the abolition of appointment lists in August 2027.
Education unions warn that failure to reach a timely solution could create significant staffing problems in public schools.
POED demands written proposals
Speaking to Politis, POED president Myria Vassiliou said the organisation does not intend to attend Friday's meeting unless the ministry first submits its proposals in writing.
"For two years now, the minister and Education Ministry officials have been telling us there will be dialogue and that proposals would be sent to us. The only thing that has happened is that we have repeatedly submitted our own positions and waited for the ministry."
Vassiliou argued that none of the timelines previously set by the ministry had been met, exhausting the patience of education stakeholders.
She said POED is no longer prepared to rely on verbal discussions and wants concrete proposals that can be properly examined and discussed.
According to Vasilliou, the issue affects not only teachers but also the future operation of public schools.
Concerns over 2027 deadline
Similar concerns have been raised by the Secondary School Teachers' Union (OELMEK), which warned that time is running out before the current system expires.
OELMEK president Constantinos Constantinou said that, unless the legislative framework is amended, schools could face serious teacher shortages from September 2027.
"If no changes are made to the legislation, we will not have enough teachers in our schools in September 2027."
He cited secondary education as an example, noting that if approximately 400 language teachers were required for contract and temporary appointments, the existing appointment lists would not be sufficient to fill even half of the posts allowed under current legislation.
Pressure mounting
With Friday's meeting now under threat and the 2027 deadline approaching, what began as a long-running education reform debate is increasingly being viewed as a pressing staffing issue.
Education unions argue that without clear proposals and agreement on a new framework, the smooth staffing of public schools could be seriously affected in the coming years.
