Parents of pupils at Tremithousa Full-Day Primary School staged a protest on Tuesday against plans to relocate one of the school's portable classrooms, arguing that growing enrolment and existing space shortages make the facility necessary.
According to the parents, workers arrived at the school in the morning to remove the classroom but left following objections from those gathered.
Parents say the school's needs are increasing, with enrolment expected to exceed 60 pupils, and argue that additional teaching and special education spaces are already required.
Education officials say operations will not be affected
Giorgos Yiallourides, First District Officer for Primary Education in Paphos, told Politis that the protest reflects concerns from a group of parents but that the decision was made based on the school's actual needs and increased demand for portable classrooms elsewhere.
According to Yiallourides, the school currently has 54 pupils and four portable classrooms, more than required for its current operation.
He said the classrooms are used by pupils in Years 3 and 4, as well as combined Year 5 and Year 6 classes.
Classroom will be divided into two spaces
Under the existing plan, one 50-square-metre portable classroom will be divided into two separate 25-square-metre rooms.
Yiallourides explained that one of the rooms would be used by nine pupils, while seven others would move to the second room during Greek and Mathematics lessons.
He said classrooms of 25 square metres are considered suitable for groups of up to 10 pupils, adding that the reorganisation is not expected to disrupt the school's smooth operation.
Portable unit to be transferred to another school
Yiallourides said the proposal was first discussed during the previous school year and involves transferring one portable classroom from Tremithousa to another school facing what he described as an urgent need for additional space.
After the relocation, three portable classrooms will remain at Tremithousa, with one of them divided into two independent teaching areas.
"The needs will not disappear, but they are being addressed," he said.
He added that the process would continue and urged against portraying the situation as a threat to the school's functioning.
"There is no problem being created for the operation of the school," he said.
