POED, OELMEK and OLTEK will gather outside the Presidential Palace today, taking their dispute with the Education Ministry over the new teacher appointment system directly to President Nikos Christodoulides.
The Education Ministry’s revised proposal failed to bridge the gap between the two sides, with the unions arguing that the main issues they raised remain unresolved, while the ministry insists that consultations are continuing.
Both the education unions and the ministry have now drawn their own “red lines”.
POED, OELMEK and OLTEK oppose even the possibility that teachers already serving in public schools could be required to sit examinations in order to secure permanent appointments.
The Education Ministry does not share this position. With differences with Education Minister Athena Michaelidou remaining unresolved, the unions are now turning to her political superior and seeking intervention from the President of the Republic.
Protest ‘necessary’
POED president Myria Vassiliou set the tone for today’s demonstration following a new meeting between the three unions.
“Not only is the protest not being cancelled, it is necessary,” she said.
Vassiliou explained that the decision to demonstrate outside the Presidential Palace is directly linked to the unions’ intention to seek intervention from President Christodoulides in order, as they argue, to correct distortions in the revised proposal.
In their joint statement, the unions said the ministry’s proposal does not address the concerns of teachers who have been serving in public schools for years.
They also expressed reservations about the closed register, arguing that it does not provide a clear path towards permanent appointment.
The unions have also raised concerns regarding substitute teachers, contract teachers and those employed on indefinite-term contracts. They argue that changes intended to correct existing distortions should not create new ones.
A particular point of contention is that permanent appointments would continue to be made through the appointment eligibility list and ranking examinations.
At the same time, the unions argue that the provisions governing the closed register do not provide equal coverage for all categories of teachers who have already served in public schools.
Ministry: ‘Our proposal is fair’
The Education Ministry, for its part, maintains that the process has not been completed.
Michaelidou recalled that the unions were given one week to submit their written positions on the revised proposal and said the ministry is awaiting their responses before deciding on its next steps.
The minister described the proposal as fair and balanced, arguing that it takes into account both teachers with previous service and those who have already passed examinations.
“I cannot know why they are also rejecting the revised proposal,” Michaelidou said.
She insisted that, from the ministry’s perspective, the situation does not constitute a deadlock but rather an ongoing consultation process.
