Admissions to All-Day Cross-Curricular and Interdisciplinary Learning Schools are being decided by lottery rather than through an assessment of applicants’ files and personal interviews, as provided in a Cabinet-approved proposal.
Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of the Child Elena Pericleous highlighted the discrepancy in a new report examining the operation of Sports Schools, Music Schools and All-Day Cross-Curricular and Interdisciplinary Learning Schools. She also raised concerns about the transparency of the process.
Admission process differs from approved model
The approved proposal stipulated that children would be selected by a special committee following an assessment of each applicant’s file and a personal interview. In practice, however, admissions are decided through a lottery.
According to the report, complaints from members of the public and experience from the programme’s implementation suggest that children with a genuine interest in the programme may be excluded through the lottery. At the same time, places may be allocated to children whose parents primarily choose the school because it offers all-day attendance.
The Commissioner also found that the lottery is not conducted in a manner that ensures transparency. She therefore recommended reviewing the process and assessing whether it serves the objectives of this type of school.
Criteria without exclusions
If the lottery is deemed the most effective method of admission, the Commissioner called for a transparent procedure with criteria ensuring equal representation based on gender, geographical area, learning needs and circumstances of vulnerability.
She also recommended removing general references to writing, reading and numeracy skills from the admission requirements. Such criteria could exclude children from migrant or refugee backgrounds, as well as children with disabilities, even though reducing inequalities is a central objective of STEAM education.
The report also calls for documents published or sent to parents to state the actual admission process clearly. If the lottery system is retained, the relevant Cabinet decision should also be amended.
Demanding schedules at Sports and Music Schools
The report also examined Sports and Music Schools. While recognising their contribution to developing children’s particular abilities, it identified serious weaknesses in their operation.
According to the Commissioner, operating these schools within the general education system without corresponding changes to timetables, infrastructure and assessment places a disproportionate burden on pupils.
Limited time for academic lessons, the need for private tuition and rehearsals held during breaks, afternoons or even weekends contribute to particularly demanding daily schedules.
At Sports Schools, the report recorded increased anxiety and psychological pressure, warning of the risk of injuries, burnout and children losing interest in sport. Its recommendations include increasing training time, allowing recovery after morning training, providing physiotherapy and organising support to help pupils catch up on material missed because of sporting events.
For Music Schools, the Commissioner stressed the need to formally regulate their operation and address the difficulties experienced by children from remote areas because of travel requirements and heavily loaded daily schedules.
The report was based on the views of 155 children and 51 teachers and has been submitted to the Education Ministry and Parliament.
